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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-26 Historical Commission Minutesra 0 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Bogard - committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-02-26 Time: 6:30 Building: Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: 'Rt`Ct4YE D TOWN CLERK READING, MA, 2025MAR24 A1411t35 Virginia Adams (VA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah Bmkilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), Plno D'Orazlo (PD), Amelia Davin Freedman (ADF), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Thomas Walsh, Trinity Home Builders LLC Angus Bruce, Trinity Home Builders LLC Tom Doherty, 464 Summer Ave. Chris Quasarano, 447 Summer Ave. Mary Ellen O'Neill, 125 Summer Ave. Janice Feagley, 483 Summer Ave. Kelly & Tim Weis, 434 Summer Ave. Flubert & Sllfllia Douyon, 52 Salem St. Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: PD called the meeting to order at 6:34PM. Discussion with resident Tom Allen regarding historical documents he found in his home - postponed until March 12 Lafayette reenactment discussion Former Reading resident Peter Maguire contacted VA to see if the RHC could support the reenactment of Lafayette's visit to Reading in 1825. Mr. Maguire worked with Lafayette Trails Inc. to have a marker Installed In 2022 to commemorate the visit. On June 21, an actor impersonating Lafayette will arrive in a horse drawn carriage at the site of the Lafayette Trail Marker outside of the Latham Law Offices. RHC can offer support by providing local public relations. RHC Award ADF updated the document describing the RHC Award, and SC is interlocutor with Mr. John Fiore of RMHS History Department. The purpose of the award is to recognize an RMHS student for exceptional history coursework and to encourage RMHS students to pursue the study of history In college, thereby promoting the work and goals of the RHC to the Reading community. Page 1 1 JEB made a motion to authorize the RHC History Award, including approving the $250 award check from the RHC General Operating Fund and copy of At Wood End to be given to the RMHS student Identified by RHC and awarded at the RMHS Senior Award Ceremony scheduled around May, 2024 (JEB), SC seconded, Vote 5- 0. List of resources for sellers of historic properties ADF and SC created a spreadsheet with the details of 10 resources to market historical homes. The spreadsheet provides the resource name, website URL, Information on how to list a property, and the cost. SB suggested that we post this resource on the RHC page of the Town website. • SB Is finishing the Form B for 64 Berkeley Street and is writing Form Bs for three additional properties. • ADF researched relocated Inventory properties that are also listed on the National Register. Four out of five of the structures were relocated before they were listed on the Inventory. The structure at 273 Pearl Street was moved from Sanborn Street adjacent to the original house. • Amanda Beatrice (AB), Administrative Specialist, has suggested we add Assessor ID to properties listed on the Inventory. SB will follow up. • CK noted that the Inventory needs to be updated with properties added in 2024 and demolished (531 Main Street and 40 Grove Street). Details sent to SB for action. 2024 Annual Report review - The group praised PD's annual report to the town. 25 Haven Street/Art Deco light fixture preservation SB reached out to Bilal, representative of the Reading Mosque with no response. Accession of Daniel Pratt Clock - discussion postponed Financelfreasurei's report - nothing to report CataloaIt software updates - nothing to report 7:OO1131141 Public Hearing for 472 Summer Ave. demolition delay application PD called the Public Hearing to order and read the legal notice published on February 12 and the history of Stillman Pratt House, a Greek Revival style dwelling built in the late 1840s. PD reported that Mr. Walsh came before the RHC at our January 8 meeting to introduce his Demolition Delay application. The application was deemed incomplete at that time. Mr. Walsh invited the RHC to visit the property. VA, SB, JEB and CK toured the property on February 11, 2025, with Mr. Bruce and Mr. Walsh. VA recorded observations of the visit, and SB took pictures throughout the structure. Mr. Walsh explained to the group that he purchased the property as a potential home for his daughter and son in law who wish to relocate to Reading from Seattle. Based on a report from a structural engineer, he concluded that the house was not restorable. Mr. Bruce showed photos of the property. Part of the main box of the house was built on a solid foundation. The ell and living room portions of the house were built on bare ground. As such, the building has settled on the ends rendering it impossible to lift the structure and rebuild a foundation. The standalone fireplace was built on the ground, and the house Is attached to the Fireplace. The Floor joists are bowed. Two trees outside of the living room will need to be taken down as the roots would interfere with a new foundation. Page 1 2 Four, Fluted Doric columns support the roof over the veranda and the bedrooms above. When asked what was salvageable, Mr. Bruce responded with the columns, pine Flooring, the granite posts, and Newel post. He commented that the rafters in the attic have pulled apart because of beetle activity. PD thanked the public for attending and opened the floor for questions. • Ms. Feagley asked if there was anything salvageable in the house. Mr. Bruce answered Newel post, pine boards, and columns on the front porch. He would like to keep the elevation of the new house at the same height and keep the stone pillars on the driveway. Ms. Feagley then asked what the new property would look like. Would it have a separate garage? Mr. Bruce explained that the house would be two-story, with a porch across the front and two -car garage under the home. The grade of the property allows for an under -house garage. • Mr. Quasarano expressed relief that the house would not be tom down so that an apartment building could be built. • Ms. O'Neill requested to minimize the number of trees being felled. • Mr. Walsh Invited the public to visit the house he is building at 114 Forest Street, which is a modern farmhouse design. He submitted the plans for 114 Forest Street with his Demo Delay application and intended to modify the design to include a large farmers porch In keeping with the historical house. • Mr. and Mrs. Weis, who live next door, expressed concern for the safety of their children and dog during construction. Mr. Bruce offered his cell phone number and to walk the property with them to assure them that all is safe. He commented that he would like to keep the hedge between the adjacent properties. Construction would take approximately nine months. It was not clear if a fence would be required around the foundation during construction. • Mr. Bruce noted that the house is currently on septic but that the new house will be connected to Town sewer. The sewer connection Is ready. • Mr. Quasarano commented that 472 Summer Ave. is a piece of Town history, as the property is listed on the National Register. He asked if the new house could retain some of the Greek Revival character. ADF asked Mr. Walsh if he would consider alternatives to full demolition. She explained RHC's efforts to find a buyer for 40 Grove Street prior to Its demolition. Mr. Walsh agreed to explore the list of resources to market historical homes. Mr. Walsh commented that the property has asbestos in it, which might complicate the process of moving it. JEB asked him to provide updated plans to show his actual proposed structure for this site. Mr. Walsh said was financially unable to provide full architectural plans at this time but would provide renderings of the facades. JEB Invited Mr. Walsh to RHC meetings over the next months. He also discussed with Mr. Walsh the Commission's option for an early release of the demo delay based on an agreement between him and the Commission regarding those proposed plans. PD read a statement before making a motion to close the hearing at 8:15PM, JEB second, vote 5 - 0. PD made a motion to Issue a demolition delay of up to five months and two weeks* for 472 Summer Ave., JEB second, vote 5 - 0. *The RHC meeting was originally scheduled for February 12 but was postponed for two weeks because of an administrative delay in announcing the public hearing. Demolition delay bylaw discussion & recap from January 8 community outreach meeting regarding potential extension of the delay timeline Page 1 3 It was agreed that before going to Town Meeting with a potential demo delay extension, the RHC needs to collect more opinions from the owners of properties on the Inventory. PD to initiate a survey with Andrew MacNichol, Community Development Director, and AB. 71 Franklin Street The ell of this structure was demolished and a new foundation poured without notification from the Town to RHC. JEB discussed the property with Bret Bennett, Building Commissioner, and will follow up with AB. Was this considered a partial demolition? The ell is listed on the property's Form B. NEDCC reprints of historic photos SC needs help to move the framed photos from the Town Hall Conference room and Archive to NEDCC. JEB and ADF offered assistance. We will ask NEDCC to save the frames. SC will communicate the plan with Matt Kraunelis, Town Manager. Town Archive review and updates • Robert Doucette offered the 1933 RMHS Plonee and 501h class reunion booklet to RHC. SC made a motion to accession the items, PD second, Vote 5- 0. It is believed that 1933 was the first year that the RMHS yearbook was called pioneer. • VA mentioned that she has a photo of the RMHS class of 1932 which she would like to donate to the Archive. • Meg Bond contacted the RHC to donate professional photographs of Reading resident Edith Nordberg. ADF will research Mrs. Nordberg's history. Future agenda items • Site visit to beehive oven restoration at 51 Mill Street • Meeting with North Reading Historical Commission on March 27, 2025 • VA brought in newspaper clippings of"Fountain *3," a historic hand -pumped fire engine originally built in 1836, that has returned home to Reading Fire Station 2. Review minutes from the January 6 & 8 meetings - postponed to next meeting Documents and exhibits used at meeting • Demolition Delay application for 472 Summer Ave. (RHC 24-3) • Form B 472 Summer Avenue (MACRIS REA.97) • RHC Award (rev. 2/19/2025) • List of resources for sellers of historic properties PD made a motion to adjourn at 9:OOPM, JEB second, vote 5 - 0. Next Meeting: March 19, 2025, 6:30PM, Town Hall Berger Room