[MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels

[Steve at Jellcor.com]

Interesting topic. The Wright farm’s mission seems more about community and sustainability than history. There may be good reasons for solar panels, but it seems to me that the argument that, “the wright family was on the cutting edge and would opt for solar panels” is not a good one in this particular case if we are talking about historic preservation. Using that logic, you could opt for automated irrigation, modern fertilizers, modern tractors, etc. 

 

In the case of the Wright farm, maybe the history is less important than the sustainability aspect, but the solar panels are a move away from historical preservation.

 

As a Historical Commission, it is our goal to preserve the past as it was, not as it might be.  Sometimes we must bow to modernity in the cases such as fire codes, or handicapped access. It my opinion, the solar panels drastically alter what is seen at the site and will distort what some visitors will think about the past, especially young children. Did the period represented have electrical appliances at the site? If not, the solar panels seem like a serious anachronism rendering the barn as something other than an element of the historical aspect.

 

 

Regards,

 

Steve Joanis

Bellingham Historical Commission

C: 781-710-1697

 

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Patricia Kelleher via MassHistPres
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2023 10:18 AM
To: Jack LeMenager <jlemen11 at icloud.com>; forrestj100 <forrestj100 at yahoo.com>
Cc: MHC MHC Listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels

 

Good morning,

 

The Salem Historical Commission has added new guidance on solar panel installation in its recently updated design guidelines, which can be found here:  <https://cityofsalem1.sharepoint.com/sites/HistoricalCommission/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FHistoricalCommission%2FShared%20Documents%2FDesign%20Guidelines%20Update%2FFinal%20Design%20Guidelines%20Update%202022%2FSalem%20Historical%20Commission%20Guidelines%20Notebook%202022%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FHistoricalCommission%2FShared%20Documents%2FDesign%20Guidelines%20Update%2FFinal%20Design%20Guidelines%20Update%202022&p=true&ga=1>  https://cityofsalem1.sharepoint.com/sites/HistoricalCommission/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FHistoricalCommission%2FShared%20Documents%2FDesign%20Guidelines%20Update%2FFinal%20Design%20Guidelines%20Update%202022%2FSalem%20Historical%20Commission%20Guidelines%20Notebook%202022%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FHistoricalCommission%2FShared%20Documents%2FDesign%20Guidelines%20Update%2FFinal%20Design%20Guidelines%20Update%202022&p=true&ga=1

 

In general, the Salem Commission is supportive of solar installations but works with owners to place panels in least visible location, attach mounting equipment in least invasive method possible, and install panels parallel to roof plane with minimal height above roof surface. In addition, all associated mechanical equipment should be installed at rear of building.

 

Best,

 

Patti

 

Patti Kelleher

Preservation Planner

City of Salem | Department of Planning & Community Development

98 Washington St., 2nd Floor | Salem, MA  01970

978-619-5685  ext. 42510 | pkelleher at salem.com <mailto:pkelleher at salem.com> 

www.preservingsalem.com <http://www.preservingsalem.com>  | www.salem.com <http://www.salem.com>  

 

*Staff liaison to the Salem Historical Commission & Salem Community Preservation Committee

 



 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> > On Behalf Of Jack LeMenager via MassHistPres
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2023 9:24 AM
To: forrestj100 <forrestj100 at yahoo.com <mailto:forrestj100 at yahoo.com> >
Cc: MHC MHC Listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> >
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels

 

	
Caution: This email originated from outside our system. Please do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 

 

Alisa — The Board of Trustees of the historic Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester (the nation’s oldest continuously operating farm) wanted to install solar panels on its barn roofs.  

 

The Winchester Historical Commission debated the matter at great length. Two factors eventually swayed us toward unanimous acceptance. 

 

First was their removability (as cited in other responses here). 

 

But second was the history of the farm and its original owner, the Wright family, which was always on the cutting edge of 18th and 19th century farming techniques and technologies. The Board argued that if the Wright family was still running the farm, they would certainly opt for solar panels.  

 

Jack LeMenager 

Chair, Winchester Historical Commission 

Winchester, MA

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Apr 19, 2023, at 10:04 PM, forrestj100 via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > wrote:

 

 

Hi Alisa,

 

The Newbury Historical Commission is looking for the same information.  We are also looking to create a standard type of response for solar on historic homes in general.

 

I can't wait to see what others are doing!

 

Thanks,

 

Janice Forrest 

Newbury Historical Commission 

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy Tab A

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: Alisa Struthers via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > 

Date: 4/19/23 4:58 PM (GMT-05:00) 

To: Mass Hist <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > 

Subject: [MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels 

 

I'm looking to get a sense of how other towns are ruling on roof top solar panels in Historic Districts.

Thank you in advance for input

Alisa

Townsend Historic District Commission

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Jack LeMenager

781-454-7611

jlemen11 at icloud.com <mailto:jlemen11 at icloud.com> 

 

 

 

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