[MassHistPres] Fw: Fwd: Mass Audubon demolishes 1696 house inNatick

[heartwood]

after seeing the article on a national historic preservation site on facebook,
I contacted mass audubon...I spoke with a pr person whose name I do not
recall...he listed all the times audubon attempted to work with the town and
interested people to save the building...he was sincere enough but I challenged
him on the fact that it was in a deteriorated condition and deemed unsafe...I let
him know that that is an oft used excuse...you allow the building to decline over
many years then suggest it is unsafe...not unlike the 10 year old who pleads 
mercy as an orphan to the courts after he murders his parents...

if an organization purchases a building and/or land it is beholden to the upkeep
of said property....

this happens all too often and is profoundly sad...
...jade

jade mortimer
heartwood window restoration
po box 114   1605 mohawk trail
charlemont, ma  01339
413-625-8680

From: David Feigenbaum via MassHistPres 
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 4:32 PM
To: sally milne 
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Fw: Fwd: Mass Audubon demolishes 1696 house inNatick

Stronger state legislation would be a highly effective avenue. Is there an advocate on Beacon Hill for legislation to preserve buildings that are historic resources of towns? 

David Feigenbaum
Winchester resident


On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM sally milne via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

  Thank you Dennis and Michael for sharing. so sad. i feel as if we continue to lose so many
  important assets. we need more tools /legislation from the State law makers. . i think anyway , something must change.

  Sally Urbano
  Harwich
  imdividually

  On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM Steinitz, Michael @ SEC via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:



    Some time ago I reached out to the Natick Audubon contact person, Aaron Gouveia, to offer a second opinion to their structural engineer who deemed the house a total loss. My co-instructor at North Bennet, Michael Burrey and I were willing to visit the site to determine if the Sawin House might be a good candidate for students of the Preservation Carpentry program be involved.  Our offer was rejected.
    Dennis De Witt's interpretation of purposeful neglect leading to the inevitable may be spot on.
    As far as describing Mass Audubon as "esteemed", my personal experience dealing with a manager at the Canton, MA Bird Art site a few years ago left me with a less than stellar opinion when they chose to demolish an art installation made by the deceased donor of the 120 acre estate.  Mildred Morse Allen was an artist and documentary maker who left this amazing gift to the Audubon Soc only to have an amazing, custom fabricated,  faux motor yacht room pulled out and her floor to ceiling seascape artwork destroyed. 

    Steven O'Shaughnessy
    Dept. Head - Preservation Carpentry
    North Bennet Street School
    Boston

    -- 

    Steven O'Shaughnessy
    Dept. Head  - Preservation Carpentry
    North Bennet Street School, 150 North Street | 617 227 0155 *270



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