2003

PreservatiON MASS annually spotlights the Ten Most En-dangered Historic Resources in the Commonwealth to focusattention on and rally support for imperiled historic buildingsand landscapes. Through a media campaign, the program head-lines historic places threatened by neglect, deterioration, insuf-ficient funding, inappropriate development, insensitive publicpolicy or vandalism. Local organizations and individuals con-cerned about the potential loss of these significant resourcesnominate sites from their community. Due to the hard work anddiligence of concerned community members using the Endan-gered designation as an advocacy tool, fewer than fifteen of themore than one hundred thirty sites listed to date have been lost.Through the hard work of preservation-minded groups and in-dividuals, we hope that the 2003 Endangered Resources willbecome preservation success stories!

Ten Most EndangeredHistoric Resources

Wright-Holden Farm, Acton

One of the earliest houses in East Acton, thec. 1830 “Middlesex Federal” style Wright-Holden Farm sits prominently on Route 2 andis the last farmstead in Acton to retain so muchopen space surrounding it. The farmhouse hasbeen vacant for 20 years, although part of theopen space is used by the community for soc-cer fields and Boy Scout ceremonies.

The current owner, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MDOC), has noimmediate plans for the house and performs little in the way of maintenance. Manyconcerned individuals have contacted the Acton Historical Commission regarding thestate of the house and their wish to see it restored and adaptively reused, however littlecan be done while the MDOC retains control of the property.

Photo: Peter Grover, Acton Historical Commission

Blackstone Canal, Blackstone RiverValley National Heritage Corridor

The Blackstone Canal is an engineered structure and land-scape extending forty-five miles from Worcester to Provi-dence, RI. The Massachusetts canal route travelsthroughthe communities of Blackstone, Millville,Uxbridge, Northbridge, Grafton, Sutton, Millbury andWorcester. The Canal operated from 1828 to 1848, dur-ing which time it played a significant role in advancingthe Industrial Revolution through innovative transporta-tion technology. The industrial villages came to see them-selves as connected by the river and canal.Phot

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Because some segments of the Canal are intact and well-preserved, there’s a generalmisconception by the public that the entire resource is protected. Much of the Canal islocated on private property, which is being developed without regard to the resource.Nature and time continue to erode canal walls and wash out sections of the towpath.The public sections of the Canal are subject to erosion from dirt bike tires.Suburbanization occurring adjacent to the Canalthreatens the integrity and continuityof the early 19th century landscape.

Historic Breweries ofMission Hill, Roxbury

The 1886 Eblana-Alley Brewery, the 1892-1913Highland Spring Brewery, and the 1876-1886Vienna Brewery are located along the formerStony Brook corridor in Roxbury’s Mission Hillneighborhood. At the height of the local brew-ing industry in the late 19th century, the StonyBrook corridor was a regional center of indus-trial production. The remnants of the three brew-eries, as well as four additional brewery complexes in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, wererecommended as a potential thematic National Register Historic District by the BostonLandmarks Commission (BLC) in 1985. In 1988 the BLC issued an official eligibilityopinion finding the Vienna Brewery eligible for the National Register and also designatedthe complex a Boston Landmark.

The three breweries face similar threats, including neglect, inappropriate rehabilitation,and pending sales without preservation restrictions or clear plans for redevelopment.Whilethere is no immediate threat of demolition for any of the structures, all are in a similarlytenuous position by reason of being largely vacant or for sale. The plight of the breweriesdrew the attention of the Friends of Historic Mission Hill, a neighborhood preservationadvocacy group, who submitted the property nomination.

Photo: Elaine Stiles

After decades of neglect, the Granite Landings are collapsing into the river. Environ-mental conditions, especially freeze and thaw cycles, mortar loss, inappropriate re-pairs, organic growth and extensive use, have all contributed to the damage. A 1999Metropolitan District Commission assessment report identified urgent repairsneededwithin one to two years. Since that study was issued, nothing has been done tostabilize or repair the structures and additional damage has occurred. There is strongand widespread support for preserving the Granite Landings from preservation andconservation groups across the Commonwealth.

Built in the 1930s, Commissioners, DartmouthStreet and Gloucester Street Granite Landingsare architectural anchors of this National Reg-ister-listed riverside park. Boston landscape ar-chitect ArthurShurcliff, best known for his workat Colonial Williamsburg, designed the Gran-ite Landings as part of the 1930s widening ofthe Charles River Esplanade. The Granite Land-ings serve as overlooks, formal landings forsmall boats, and popular gathering spots forpark visitors.

Photo: The Esplanade Association

Historic Granite Landings,Charles River Esplanade, Boston

Toll Keeper’s House,Chelsea

The house is up for sale and being offered as two separate lots. The tight locationbelow the Tobin bridge, the poor condition of the property, and the high asking pricefor each lot have many in the community fearful that the property will be sold to adeveloper for short money, who would then demolish it and replace it with a newstructure. The Chelsea City Manager, City Council, Planning and Community Devel-opment Office, Historical Commission and Historical Society all support the effort topreserve the Toll Keeper’s House.

The Toll Keepers House, built c. 1800, is one ofthe oldest surviving houses in Chelsea and a sur-vivor of the 1908 fire that destroyed half the city.Local historians believe this house to be associ-ated with the first bridge erected to serve the trade,commerce, and transportation needs of the NorthShore. The property is divided into two lots, theline between which runs through the middle ofthe building. The site was significantly alteredwith the construction of the Tobin Bridge in 1949.It is listed on the National Register as part of theChelsea Square Historic District.

Photo: David Meyers

Immaculate Conception Church,Holyoke

Photo: Sarah DiSano

Immaculate Conception Church, located in the Flatssection of Holyoke along one of the many canals, wasan important parish for many French-speaking immi-grants. Built during the 1930s in the French Gothicstyle, the church is reminiscent of New York City’srenowned Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, considered oneof the most beautiful public buildings in the UnitedStates. The first pastor of this church, Reverend JulianGinet, was originally from France, where he’d studiedarchitecture, and he was the church’s main designer.

Built to house over 1000 people, over the years the parish has dwindled to a popula-tion of about 400. According to the June 22, 2003 Immaculate Conception Churchbulletin, “It is believed that we can build a smaller church holding about 350 to 400people and costing about one and a half million dollars. A smaller church would in-volve much less maintenance costs.” According to the Diocese of Springfield, a finaldecision has not yet been made as to the fate of this church. The Holyoke HistoricalCommission and many other concerned community leaders and citizens strongly op-pose demolishing this building.

Schell Memorial Bridge,Northfield

The Schell Memorial Bridge is a 515-foot longsteel cantilever truss bridge donated to the townby one of its leading citizens, Francis R. Schell,who hoped to obtain easy access from his cha-teau in downtown Northfield to the EastNorthfield Railroad Station. Schell Bridge is thethird oldest of five Pennsylvania Truss Bridges

and was designed by Edward S. Shaw, an important bridge engineerin Massachusettsfrom 1873 to 1919. Up until its closing in 1985, theSchell Bridge provided the townwith easy transportation between the two sides of the village, which is divided by theConnecticut River.Lack of funding for maintenance and rehabilitation are ongoing threats to the SchellBridge. According to the nomination, the Town has never had sufficient funding tomaintain the bridge and by 1985 it was too far gone from a structural strength point ofview and was closed. Mass Highway devised a plan to repair the bridge, but the Towncould not justify the costs of assuming responsibility for maintaining the rehabilitatedstructure. In 1992, with no group willing to take on the responsibility of the bridge, thedecision was made to tear it down. Demolition bids were made and contracts awardedin 1999, however economic issues continued to plague the structure. The Northfieldcommunity recognizes the bridge’s historic importance and many would like to see itrestored, albeit at a reasonable cost.

Photo: Tony Jewell

In 1990, twenty street lamps remained standing. By 2003, only eleven street lampswere still standing, three of which have no electricity or are partially damaged andmissing parts. Over the years, Mass Electric has removed many of the Westinghouselamps and replaced them with modern aluminum light poles. The Lenox HistoricalCommission and many concerned citizens have united to study the street lamps, asthey strongly believe they contribute to Lenox’s character and should be restored.

The c. 1900 Victorian Crook Street Lamps were pro-duced and sited in Lenox by George Westinghouseand his Massachusetts Electric Company. Local leg-end claims that the street lamps were erected forMrs. Westinghouse, who disliked traveling in thedark. The 1913 Town of Lenox Annual Report statesthat 105 street lamps were installed at a cost of$3,675, with the town’s expenses being offset by adonation from Mr. Westinghouse. By 1916, forty-four additional street lamps had been installed.Ph

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Westinghouse “Victorian” CrookStreet Lamps, Lenox

Sea Call Farm, Orleans

Sea Call Farm occupies 6.35 acres of land with a viewof the Town Cove. It is the only remaining ensemble ofintact farmland with farm buildings in Orleans. The landwas purchased in 1921 by William Fiske, who built thefarmhouse between 1912 and 1922. Up until the prop-erty was purchased for conservation land by the Townof Orleans in 1987, it was owned and continuously livedin by members of the Fiske family. Photo: The Sea Call Supporters

Some members of the Orleans Conservation Commission feel that the farm buildings (in-cluding the house, greenhouse and garage) should be demolished because they are expen-sive to maintain. The nominees feel there is a lack of understanding within the ConservationCommission with regards to how the historic importance of the farm buildings relates to thevalue of the property as open space. The Sea Call Supporters have raised $32,000 forabatementof lead paint and asbestos present on all of the buildings, and at Orleans TownMeeting, an additional $29,000 was approved for those purposes. However, the cost ofabating these materials may exceed the total amount raised. Both the Orleans HistoricalCommission and Historical Society consistently support preserving the farm complex as awindow to Orleans’ past.

site on the Petersham Common. The 1899 Shingle Style Nichewaug Inn was built as asummer resort by prominent Petersham citizen, James W. Brooks, after a 1897 firedestroyed a previous inn located on the site. The Inn was a popular summer getawayfor nearly 50 years. In 1951 the Inn was acquired by the Sisters of Maria Assumpta andconverted into a parochial school for girls. A 55,000 square foot brick building wasadded to the rear for classrooms and student housing. The Sisters closed the schoolduring the 1970s, but used the building as a retreat until its eventual sale to privateinterests in the 1980s.

The NichewaugInn, Petersham

For the better part of 200years there has been a tav-ern, inn or hotel on this

The property has sat vacant and unused for 20 years, changing ownership several timesduring that period, until it was purchased by its current owner in 1992. In 1992 theTown supported plans to develop the property as a restaurant and inn and granted thenecessary variances. However the project did not go forward and the property has beenoffered for sale ever since. The threat of arson is a primary concern for the community,which has a volunteer fire department with minimal equipment. A local concernedcitizens group, Friends of the Nichewaug Inn, has been formed to promote this impor-tant historic resource.

Photo: Friends of the Nichewaug Inn

Alternates

Built in 1847, the Pierce Organ Pipe Factory manufac-tured thousands of metal and wood pipes for musicalorgans throughout America over the factory’s nine de-cades of operation. With its skilled workers, SamuelPierce’s factory became the seed for turning Readinginto a major center for organ industries. This two-story,timber-frame, Greek Revival-Italianate structure largelyretains its original characteristics, such as corner pilas-ters and six-over-six wood windows.

The Edmund Fowle House, the second oldest surviv-ing house in Watertown, is believed to have been builtin the early 1740s by John Bond, and was originallylocated on Mt. Auburn Street. The property was pur-chased by Edmund Fowle in 1747 and was occupiedby the Fowle family for 150 years. In 1776 the Treatyof Watertown was signed in this house—this was thefirst treaty signed between the newly formed UnitedStates and a foreign power (the delegates of the St.

When Pierce died in 1895 his manager took over the factory, but the business went intodecline during the Depression, when the advent of talking movies reduced demand for the-ater organs. The building is currently used for storage. In 2001 it was threatened with demo-lition to make way for the construction of townhouses on the site, but the Reading HistoricalCommission was able to temporarily delay the action. Overall deterioration has resultedfrom years of neglect, and there is a serious threat of loss due to fire. The Reading HistoricalCommission voted in June 2002 to seek new ways to preserve the structure and the PlanningDepartment is investigating the possibility of reusing the property as affordable housing.Cooperation between planning, historical and zoning boards is strong. The property wasofficially put up for sale in 2003.

Due to a lack of funding and weather damage, the Fowle House is in fragile condition. Ifpreservation of the house is not undertaken within the next year, original fabric will soon belost. The house is currently closed to the public, due to building code violations and theimmanent danger of ceiling collapse on the first floor. Three preservation studies were con-ducted on the house, all of which confirmed the house’s historical significance and the needfor preservation and restoration. The Watertown Town Council and Historical Commissionsupport the preserving the house, however the Town has been unable to allocate any fundingtowards the restoration project.

Pierce Organ Factory, Reading

Photo: Clayton Jones

Edmund Fowle House, Watertown

John’s and Mi’kmaq Tribes of Native Americans.) In 1871 Charles Brigham purchased thehouse, moved it to its present Marshall Street address, and converted it into a two familyresidence. In 1922 the Historical Society of Watertown purchased the home and undertookan exterior restoration.

Photo: Historical Society of Watertown