[MassHistPres] Demo Delays

[Anne Forbes]

Michael,

I don't understand this.  I wrote the attached survey form for this 
building in 1989 as part of the town-wide historic properties survey 
that Gretchen Schuler and I produced for the Hopkinton Historical 
Commission.  The building's importance, and its title as the Aaron 
Clafflin Inn, are clearly stated.  Since that was thirty years ago I 
don't remember it in detail, but I easily recommended the building as 
eligible for the National Register. The other survey forms for the 
resources on Main Street at the center will also help provide some 
context for it.

As always, when making the case for a building's preservation, a 
community's historic survey should be the first source consulted, and 
the relevant survey form(s) provided to the public, the press, and the 
owner.  Historical Commissions should also check their surveys 
periodically to see where they might benefit from being updated, 
expanded with additional buildings and properties, etc.

To entice you to search further, when writing forms for some Hopkinton 
houses in one of the areas developed by the future Governor William 
Clafflin, I remember finding the only incidence I've seen in deed 
language that is the equivalent of "no Irish need apply".  Now there's a 
piece of local history that might capture the attention of folks in town!

Anne Forbes, Acton

On 2/21/2019 12:58 PM, Roughan, Michael wrote:
>
> Julie,
>
> I couldn’t agree more that public opinion is an important component in 
> Historic Preservation and demo delay is a last resort. In Hopkinton 
> we’ve hired a noted preservationist to help craft the story of the 
> threatened Aaron Claflin Inn. To that point until we hired the 
> preservationist, I’ve been referring to the structure as 76 Main St 
> but clearly putting some context to the property starts to build the 
> case why “local history matters”.
>
> ….Mike
>
> Michael Roughan,AIA, EDAC, LEED AP, ACHA
>
>
> *D*+1.617.357.7725 *M*+1.617.784.6463
>
> //
>
> *From:*MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] *On 
> Behalf Of *Julie Nardone
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 15, 2019 5:32 PM
> *To:* MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] Demo Delays
>
> Hello,
>
> The biggest problem with demolition delays is that we need them in the 
> first place. The length is almost irrelevant.
>
> The towns themselves often don't care about them or why they should 
> matter or why local history matters or how it drives the economy.
>
> I visit other parts of the country that seem to be more in tune with 
> Historic Preservation.
>
> And when the towns don't really care, the developers don't usually 
> care either.
>
> More recently, I've seen a few important historic buildings demolished 
> in my town. One by the town. One by a developer. With another one 
> fighting for its life. The demolition gets waited out.
>
> From where I sit now, I believe the best defense is an offense. I did 
> a semi-decent job doing that when the chair, but not totally.
>
> Someone ought to be able to explain why these buildings matter and 
> convey that to the public.
>
> Then the town and the public will want to save them.
>
> Now, people will rally to save the last one, but, alas, not the last 20.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Julie Nardone
>
> Former HC Chair, Ashland
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20190221/2a45bc06/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: hpk_382.76 Main Street.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 5114828 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20190221/2a45bc06/attachment-0001.pdf>