[MassHistPres] Looking for 18th-19th century house to move and restore

[Jim Wald]

On 14/03/2011 14:17, jack obrien wrote:
> My wife and I am still looking for a 18th century or 19th century 
> house (my wife is partial to Greek Revival, but I am more 18th 
> century) that is in need of moving to save it from demolition. If 
> anyone knows of one, please email details.
> Thank you very much,
> Jack O'Brien
>
>
We were just discussing this one on the list--and trying to promote it 
via Twitter and other social media. See below.
Jim Wald
Amherst Historical Commission

--- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[MassHistPres] DUDLEY - Last chance - Federal-era house going, 
going, gone...?
Date: 	Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:00:33 -0500
From: 	Michele P. Barker <mpbarker at preservationmass.org>
Reply-To: 	mpbarker at preservationmass.org
Organization: 	Preservation Massachusetts/National Trust
To: 	<masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>



Hello, everyone,

It looks as though the end is near for the Priest Williams House at 69 
Dudley-Oxford Road in Dudley. This circa 1780 Federal-style house was 
the residence of Abiel "Priest" Williams, who was a minister in Dudley 
for 32 years. According to the Historical Commission, this wood-frame 
house was "once one of the most magnificent dwellings in Federalist 
Dudley." The home had been vacant and neglected for nearly a decade 
before the present ownerspurchased it in October 2009 for $40,000. The 
new owners applied for a demolition permit, triggering Dudley's 
demolition delay ordinance. The Historical Commission invoked a 12-month 
demolition delay in November 2009.

Since then, Dudley's Historical Commission has been working tirelessly 
to find solutions for the Williams House before the clock runs out. 
Preservation Massachusetts listed it as one of the state's Most 
Endangered Resources this past fall, in the hopes that the publicity 
might attract a new owner. The listing did bring the house to the 
attention of a potential buyer interested in relocating the building, 
but unfortunately, the cost of the project exceeded his budget, and 
there doesn't seem to be another rescuer on the horizon.

The demolition delay expired three months ago. The owners are willing to 
sell the house for $1 to anyone who will relocate it, but unless a 
white-hat rescuer appears on the scene, it looks as though the Williams 
House will be gone as soon as the weather permits.

I did a walk-through of the house a little more than a year ago with 
Historical Commissioners Ed Bazinet and Michael Braniff. The house looks 
remarkably sound, despite years of neglect. Much of the original 
interior trim remains intact. Even some of the original 12-over-12 
windows have survived.

If there are any last-minute rescuers out there, please contact Ed 
Bazinet or Michael Braniff of the Dudley Historical Commission at 
508-949-8004.

Go to http://tinyurl.com/2fx633l to read a /Worcester Telegram-Gazette/ 
article about the house.

Find more photos of the Priest Williams House on Preservation 
Massachusetts' Flickr site - 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/preservationmass/sets/72157622883966173/

Thanks!

Michele

Michele P. Barker

Circuit Rider

617-999-3256

mpbarker at preservationmass.org

Preservation Massachusetts

www.preservationmass.org

The Massachusetts Circuit Rider Program is a partnership of Preservation 
Massachusetts and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 
Northeast Office.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationnation.org


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