[MassHistPres] Quonset Razed AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Tue Feb 23 19:36:55 EST 2010

We’ve got one in Cambridge at 27 Cottage Park Ave (1946); see http://www.cambridgema.gov/fiscalaffairs/PropertyDetail.cfm?PropertyId=15491

________________________________
Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Mass.  02139
617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Marcia Starkey
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:39 PM
To: hlacortiglia at comcast.net; spbrauner at comcast.net; cvwtc at aol.com; jdianeol at aol.com
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

There was also one in Lancaster south of Old Common Road a few years ago.  Marcia Starkey
----- Original Message -----
From: jdianeol at aol.com<mailto:jdianeol at aol.com>
To: mdstarkey at crocker.com<mailto:mdstarkey at crocker.com> ; hlacortiglia at comcast.net<mailto:hlacortiglia at comcast.net> ; spbrauner at comcast.net<mailto:spbrauner at comcast.net> ; cvwtc at aol.com<mailto:cvwtc at aol.com>
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

To "Former Quonset Preservationist" et al...

There is still at least one residential quonset hut in MA... it's in Warren, MA.  I had known of another formerly residential quonset hut that got converted to commercial use (on rte 20 at or near the Auburn-Worcester line) but I believe it is also has been razed or is in danger of same if it still stands.  If you are truly passionate about the historical importance of this structural group, and I agree that it is worthy, you can still be something other than a "former" Quonset Preservationist.  Act now to educate generally and most especially locally where it may still do some good.  If you need support to raise this topic as one worthy of historical education and public awareness, may I suggest you speak to some local veterans' organizations since I understand that many of these structures served as temporary housing for returning WWII veterans and their families in the early post-war days. Act quickly since WWII vets are rapidly going extinct.  Your recent horror story may serve as impetus for positive action in other areas.

Politicians DO listen to veterans groups and seniors, and rarely are they referred to as "kooks".

Diane Oliver-Jensen
West Brookfield, MA

-----Original Message-----
From: Marcia Starkey <mdstarkey at crocker.com>
To: Harry LaCortiglia <hlacortiglia at comcast.net>; spbrauner at comcast.net
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Sent: Sat, Feb 13, 2010 11:51 am
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Hello,

Thanks for this exchange. I agree that the groundwork has to be laid well in advance and objectively. At the same time, I'm very concerned about the widespread absence of historical formal education, literacy as important to any educated citizen. One member of the Greenfield Historical Commission has recently written in reference to a proposed demolition: "We are what we teach!"

Marcia Starkey, Greenfield HC

----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry LaCortiglia" <hlacortiglia at comcast.net<mailto:hlacortiglia at comcast.net>>
To: <spbrauner at comcast.net<mailto:spbrauner at comcast.net>>
Cc: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

> Hello Susan,
>
> While I'm sure that your email was directed to Mr. Skelly, it was sent to > all on the listserve. Let me say that I'm sympathetic to the loss of your > community's historic structure, however, I'm amazed that you think that > preservation planning should be something you've characterized as > "passive".
> Perhaps that's at the crux of your current situation?
>
> Historic Preservation in communities cannot come from the top (at the > state level) and then work its way down to the local level. It must come > from local citizens, deciding well in advance, what is important to > preserve, and then working to hold on to what they consider important.
>
> Does your Historical Commission have a specific list and map of the > historic structures it wishes to preserve? (Is it up to date?)
>
> Have those structures been submitted for listing on the MACRIS database?
>
> Do you have a Demo Delay Bylaw enacted and written adequately to give all > those concerned the actual time needed to develop alternatives or > contingencies, long before demolition?
>
> If you've answered "no' to any of these questions, then I respectfully > suggest that you get much less "passive" in your planning and become far > more active in preparing the groundwork defenses for the next demolition > that will inevitably occur in your municipality.
>
> The sad truth (although also very inconvenient) is that no one can help > preserve your Historical assets for you, if you haven't taken those steps > for yourselves, first. Being solely reactive, as opposed to proactive, in > your preservation activities, will doom you to failure every time.
>
> Pick yourselves up and dust yourselves off from this tragic loss. Then > take this as your clarion call to be far better prepared in the future. > Rally your troops and get busy identifying, listing and putting Historic > Restrictions on what you cherish in your community.
>
> Good Luck in your new "proactive' planning!
>
> H. LaCortiglia
> Community Preservation Committee Chairman and
> Georgetown Planning Board Vice-Chair
>
> http://georgetowncpc.com
>
>
>
>
> spbrauner at comcast.net<mailto:spbrauner at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Chris -
>>
>>
>> I believe your reply does not address the issue fully of advocacy. I say >> this from the perspective, as I would guess is true of a large number of >> people on the list are as well, as having served on historic commissions, >> planning boards, and zoning boards of appeal and have great respect for >> the process.
>>
>>
>> There is, however, an appreciable difference between the passivity of >> planning, and the reality of the unexpected in the field. I want to >> thank you again for the advocacy you demonstrated a couple of years ago >> regarding a property in Harwich. Generally, however, I have found >> advocacy vis a vis demolition lacking in the Massachusetts preservation >> community. In my experience that has been true of both the the public >> sector who is legally mandated to address demolition, as well as the >> non-profit advocacy groups who are presumably mission driven and have Big >> Name board members.
>>
>> _Our own inconvenient truth in the preservation community, in my opinion, >> is that those presumably in the best position to assist the "boots on the >> ground" on what is surely one of our most important concerns, i.e., >> demolitions of significant properties, are often AWOL. _
>>
>>
>> - First, it has been my experience that it is exceedingly difficult >> to get telephone calls or e-mails returned to even request professional >> input. The public officials one assumes are mandated not to blow off the >> public. On the private side one would hope that a certain amount of >> professional courtesy would be demonstrated.
>>
>>
>> - When one is finally able to communicate with the people in a >> position to attempt to stop demolition in both the public sector and >> private it clearly becomes a case if your property concern is perceived >> as having any high public relations or expedient political benefit.
>>
>> - I know it blows a staff worker's schedule completely out of whack >> to have to stop and address a crisis which could not be avoided, but a >> demolition threat trumps a plan in importance every time.
>>
>> - It is not always about lengthy lead times, planning or legal >> maneuvers. Sometimes the most effective thing that could happen before >> the humm of the bulldozer starts up is a few well placed phone calls from >> preservation leaders in both the public and private sectors. There is >> marked resistance to do so, in my experience.
>>
>>
>>
>> Susan Parker Brauner
>>
>> Boston
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chris Skelly" <Skelly-MHC at comcast.net<mailto:Skelly-MHC at comcast.net>>
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 3:22:56 AM GMT -12:00 Dateline
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed
>>
>> This was certainly a very unfortunate loss. While there may be some that >> felt a modest mid 20^th Century resource was disposable, there are many >> of us in the preservation field that were deeply concerned about losing >> this building and what options existed to preserve it.
>>
>> Unfortunately, historic preservation when the bulldozer’s engine is >> humming simply doesn’t work. In my job at MHC, these are the phone calls >> I dread the most. Last minute, reactionary, historic preservation >> efforts are rarely successful. Successful historic preservation requires >> planning and planning takes time.
>>
>> This demolition speaks to the limited options when an MHC inventory form >> is not available, when a national register eligibility opinion cannot be >> provided due to lack of information, when a demolition delay bylaw isn’t >> in place, when no prior public education has been done, when local >> officials have no interest as well as others. Go down the list of all >> the options and, short of a miracle, you would need time for all of them.
>>
>> While it is too late for this resource, there are many lessons to be >> learned here. Chris
>>
>> Christopher C. Skelly
>> Director of Local Government Programs
>> Massachusetts Historical Commission
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> *From:* masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> >> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu?>] *On Behalf Of *cvwtc at aol.com<mailto:cvwtc at aol.com>
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 12, 2010 12:08 AM
>> *To:* masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Quonset Razed
>>
>>
>> Despite the best efforts of Richard Symmes and Matt Pujo, the veteran >> village Quonset hut was demolished on the morning of Feb. 11, 2010. Many >> individuals, preservation groups and foundations, politicians, >> corporations and veterans groups were contacted but few of them even >> bothered to respond to their pleas for help. Delta Electronic of Beverly >> was the only corporation to offer some money. Wendy Price of Historic >> New England was the only person from an historic organization who kept in >> contact with the preservationists and actively participated in the effort >> to save the hut. Local historical societies and commissions showed no >> interest in even documenting this rare structure.
>>
>> When a building that was designed to be moved (and was likely the last >> intact example of a civilian hut) cannot be saved, then something is >> wrong with preservation in New England. The Circuit Rider program did >> not live up to its glowing description. Several preservationists who >> seemed concerned about this building's fate failed to even return phone >> calls despite the dire nature of this situation. Corporate sponsors of >> preservation groups did not respond in a favorable manner when asked for >> assistance.
>>
>> Many in the historic community felt a building this modern and >> "unattractive" was not worth saving but it's this stuffy attitude on what >> is historic and what isn't that will be the death of the preservation >> movement. Sadly, not even the well-preserved metal shell of the building >> could be salvaged to maintain the collection of preserved military >> Quonset huts at the Seabee Museum.
>>
>>
>> Ignorance, apathy and greed won. When confronted about the demolition of >> the civilian Quonset hut, one Hamilton elected official wrote in an >> e-mail, "I do not feel any guilt or shame for doing nothing...If you were >> interested in saving this building, you should have bought it."
>>
>> Thank you to all those who did understand why this building was >> historically valuable. Maybe some lessons can be learned from this loss.
>>
>>
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