[MassHistPres] Demolition of Old Store in Historic Registration District

[Cathy Roth]

Hello fellow Historical Preservationists,

We have a building in our National Historic Registration District
that was previously the Town of Middlefield’s General Store. It is
about 100 years old. It has been abandoned for about a decade
and has had brownfield remediation undertaken by DEP during the last 
2-3 years to address soil contamination from gas pumps removed from 
the site 20 years ago or more. The building abuts a residential home which 
is from the same historic era and was abandoned at the same time by the owner.

The Town is in the process of taking the property for upwards of $200,000
in back taxes. While not public yet, the Selectboard is moving towards demolition
of the store and possibly re-use of the residence. An engineer brought in by the 
S.B. and the building inspector have indicated that the store building is not worth saving.
The Middlefield Heritage Society is interested in having the town repair and re-use the 
building. 


I understand that being under the National Register designation does not prevent
demolition. Have any of you suggestions for how we might proceed to keep this historic
building from being torn down?
Many thanks,
Cathy Roth, 
Previous President, Middlefield Heritage Society