Our Commonwealth

Preservation Across Massachusetts November 2009

In This Issue Greetings from Preservation Massachusetts!

Endangered on the Vineyard!
Fall Preservation Event a
Another month has passed and once again we have lots
Success!
to share with you in this edition of Our Commonwealth!
PM to be Honored by The With each issue we seem to be getting more information,
Hanover Theatre interesting articles, updates on issues and upcoming
events to share with our partners across the state. Our
New "Developments" in North Commonwealth has proven to be a great resource and
Easton tool for PM to communicate with you. I sincerely hope you
Most Endangered Update: find it interesting and informative and as always we love
Hopper Success hearing your feedback.

Communication is very important for our organization and

Corporate Sponsors
the entire preservation movement in Massachusetts. Communicating why preservation is
important, how it plays a role in our daily lives and how it can benefit and enhance communities is
all part of preservation education. Education is a vitally important part of PM and our mission. Dorr
Platinum / $25,000 Fox's lead article discusses how workshops and partnerships plays a part in his role as a Circuit
Winn Development Rider. Our Fall Preservation Event, which took place on October 28th, was a tremendous success
and featured a very informative and excellent talk by Timothy Orwig on the origins of the
preservation movement in Massachusetts. Even preservationists need a refresher course now and
Gold / $10,000 then.

Boston Red Sox At PM we are constantly learning and finding new opportunities to take our resources and support
across our state. From learning about an endangered house belonging to one of the very few
African American whaling captains to organizing workshops, preservation education is an ongoing
Benefactor / $5,000 process and one that PM is dedicated to continuing. I hope you will take part in our educational
ventures with us!
Bank of America
BayNorth Capital Sincerely,

Consigli Construction Co.,

Inc.
First Resource Development
Holland + Knight
Keith Construction Ltd.
Mira Development
Murtha Cullina LLP
Wessling Architects Inc.
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin,
Inc.
 The Education of Preservation
Patron / $2,000 - $2,500 Being a circuit rider is not just about visiting amazing historic sites and
Beacon Communities LLC engaging with interesting people about the projects they are
passionate about. It is also about continually educating and fostering a
better understanding of historic preservation, its benefits, resources
and functions in our communities. A great way to achieve this is by
DAIQ/D'Agostino Izzo Quirk hosting local workshops that involve a number of different preservation
Architects related topics, discussions and partner organizations.
Epsilon Associates
This week Preservation Massachusetts co-sponsored with the
Finegold Alexander + Trustees of Reservations a workshop focused on preserving historic
Associates barns. The workshop, hosted at the BristolCountyAgriculturalSchool in
Dighton , intended to educate attendees on the advantages of
Forest City approving the Community Preservation Act as a tool for preserving historic barns. Featured
Lee Kennedy Co., Inc. speakers included Ian Ellison, a master timber framer, and Brian Herr, former clerk of the works for
a barn in Hopkinton that was restored using CPA funds. Elsa Fitzgerald and I have had the
Nixon Peabody LLP pleasure of working with Kelley Whitmore of the Trustees of Reservations on this project.
The Architectural Team
This is the third workshop I have worked on as a circuit rider. Earlier this summer, Erin Kelly and I
helped organize a seminar in Taunton in coordination with The Trust for Public Land that
emphasized the benefits of CPA in regards to historic preservation, along with other tools like our
State Historic Tax Credit.

******************** This past April, Preservation Massachusetts partnered with the Cape Cod Commission and the
National Trust for Historic Preservation on a day-long workshop in Harwich. Presentation topics
Board of Directors included generating good CPA projects, modernist buildings on the Cape and preventing the
demolition of historic structures. More than one hundred people attended, including members of
historical commissions, historic district commissions and preservation professionals. On this
venture, I worked closely with Sarah Korjeff who has led preservation efforts for the Cape Cod
Jack Hodgkins-Chair
Commission for several years.
Pamela Bailey - Clerk
Currently, Sarah and I are embarking on another educational adventure scheduled for the spring of
Philip A. Madonia- Treasurer 2010 that will focus on historic preservation and green technology. Session topics will include how
green design can be accommodated in the restoration of historic buildings without losing their
character defining features, preserving original windows while being energy efficient and combing
James G. Alexander, FAIA alternative energy sources with historic preservation. In light of how climate change is affecting
Pamela Bailey how we perceive our built environment and preservation, we believe that this is a timely theme for
Cape Cod and should generate substantial interest.
Daniel R. Benoit
For many years Preservation Massachusetts has been making a significant contribution to
Thomas F. Birmingham educating the historic preservation community within our state. With "on the road" education
Jean Carroon, FAIA seminars like Preservation 101 and 201, as well as a new presentation on historic preservation
and CPA, we have been working hard to ensure that historical commissions, community
Kara Cicchetti preservation committees and all preservationists have the opportunity to access these important
Stuart Gregerman educational resources . We hope to see you at one of our workshops to learn how you can help
preserve and revitalize your community!
Frank T. Keefe
Daniel Kolodner
Dorr Fox is a Circuit Rider for Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.
Todd McCabe Contact him at dfox@preservationmass.org
James McDermott
Michael H. Rosenberg Fall Preservation Event A
Yanni Tsipis Success!
Rita Walsh
Fran Weld On Wednesday October 28, 2009, over one hundred
preservation professionals, enthusiasts and corporate
Claudia S. Wu partners gathered in the offices of Nixon Peabody
LLP to formally announce 2009's Massachusetts
Most Endangered Historic Resources. This year's
Staff endangered resources include Peace Haven in
Assonet (Freetown), the Blackstone Viaduct in
James W. Igoe
Blackstone, and the Caesar Robbins House in
President Concord and the Cisco Homestead in Grafton. Foreclosed & Abandoned Neighborhood
Properties (Statewide), the Milton Poor Farm in Milton, the First Baptist Church in New Bedford
and Lincoln Square in Worcester also made 2009's list.
Erin D. A. Kelly
Assistant Director The evening also featured a fantastic talk on the origins of the preservation movement in
Massachusetts by Timothy Orwig, lecturer in American Studies at Boston University. Thanks to
Tim for his talk, all attendees, members and volunteers who helped make this yet another great
Anulfo G. Baez night for preservation in Massachusetts.
Office Manager
Photo: Jim Igoe, Erin Kelly and Steve Moga with Maria Madison and Faith
Ferguson, representatives from the Caesar Robbins House in Concord. Credit: Anulfo Baez
 Elsa Fitzgerald
Special Projects Manager
Intern
Courtney Whelan
Circuit Riders
In Parnership with
the National Trust for Historic
Preservation
Michele P. Barker
Dorr Fox
Steve Moga
Support Preservation
Massachusetts!
***********
Preservation Massachusetts
is entirely supported by our
Corporate and Individual
Members and Foundations.
Find out about Corporate
benefits, events, programs
and take an active role in
preserving our
Commonwealth.
Join or renew your
membership today!
www.preservationmass.org
Mark your calendars and join
us on May 5th, 2010 for the
23rd Annual Awards Dinner at
the Fairmont Copley Plaza
Hotel!
More details to follow in the wishes to see their family connection with the house and Hopper's legacy preserved for the
coming months
African American
Whaling Captain's Salem Athanaeum Celebrates 200 Years in 2010!
house on Martha's The Salem Athenæum, a preeminent cultural institution, marks its 200th year in 2010. With its
Vineyard is collection of historic and contemporary books and quality programming comprised of lectures,
endangered! courses, and concerts, the Athenæum will celebrate its members and collections and their
influence on Salem and the world.
A historic home in Edgartown
Preservation Massachusetts to be
honored in Worcester on November 23.
The Worcester Center for Performing Arts has selected Preservation
Massachusetts as one of the recipients of the First Annual Encore
Awards for its significant contribution to the development of the
Hanover Theatre.
PM supported the rehabilitation of the former Lowes/Poli's Palace
Theatre in downtown Worcester from the very beginning. The project
was aided by crucial State Historic Tax Credits and opened with
flourish on March 14, 2008. PM President Jim Igoe attended the
opening gala and was "tremendously proud and utterly amazed at the
remarkable restoration of the Hanover Theatre. It is truly a gem for the City of Worcester". The
Hanover Theatre was awarded a Paul E. Tsongas Award in 2008 for its use of the State Historic
Tax Credit in promoting economic development by reusing a historic building. PM is extremely
honored to be recognized for our contribution to this great theatre.
New "Developments" in North
Easton
The bulldozer looming in front of the historic office
building at the Ames Shovel Shops is now gone.
Just last week the town of Easton and Beacon
Communities, LLC unveiled new plans to restore
and reuse the complex of buildings that has been
threatened with over-development and demolition.
In 2008, PM listed the complex on the Most Endangered list due to a large-scale housing
development proposed that would demolish or severely compromise the historic integrity
and character of the Shovel Shops and the center of North Easton. The Shops were also
included on the National Trust's 11 Most Endangered list earlier this year. Beacon
Communities is based in Boston and has a long track record of successful historic
rehabilitation projects across the state. Housing is still the planned use but at a scaled back
level that what the previous owners had proposed. PM is excited to see this latest
development for the Ames Shovel Shops and will support this project as it moves forward.
Plans
Underway to Preserve Hopper
property and house in Truro
The family that now owns the seaside house and
property of famed artist Edward Hopper have
recently announced plans to protect the property and
house with deed restrictions. The Hopper house, located in Truro, was listed on PM's 2007
Most Endangered List due to the proposed construction of a 6,500 square foot house on an
adjacent land parcel. The house was situated in the middle of the "Hopper landscape" which
is the view the artist often painted from his large north-facing window. And while the
controversial house continues under construction, a conservation restriction is being worked
out for the 7.6 acres of Hopper property that will protect the land from further development.
The family also plans to place a preservation restriction on the house itself, citing their
future.
The Athenæum will kick off its 200th year with a cocktail party at Sixty2 On Wharf in Salem on
January 12, 6 to 9 p.m.
once belonging to Captain
William A. Martin, one of the On March 6, 2010, (exactly 200 years from the date of its incorporation) the Athenæum celebrates
only few African American its anniversary in style with a Federalist period "assembly" (the name given at that time to a
Whaling Captains is splendid social event featuring music, dance, food and drink). This event, The Salem Athenaeum
endangered. The house Bicentennial Assembly: Celebrating 1810, will be held at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut Street, Salem
which was built in 1870 has from 7 to 11 p.m. More events will take place throughout the year and PM will keep you updated.
Fore more information visit www.salemathanaeum.net
fallen into disrepair further
adding to the preservation
challenges it currently faces.
The cost for buying the house
and renovating it is at
approximately $3 million.

Click here to learn more

about this historic house on
Martha's Vineyard.

Mark Your Calendars!!

Our Commonwealth goes out

monthly to nearly 800
inviduals and businesses
across Massachusetts and
beyond! If you'd like your
event, workshop or program
highlighted, email
abaez@preservationmass.org