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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-11 Historical Commission MinutesTown of Reading 0 R Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2026-2-11 Time: 6:30 PM Building: Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams (VA), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), Pino D'Orazio (PD), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Jonathan Barnes (JEB) Others Present: Everett Blodgett, 99 Prescott Street John Burns, Owner 52 Salem Street (Chatham & Grey) Nicole Kreszswick, 60 Salem Street Rose Marinucci, Merrimack College archivist/intern Bethann Matathia, 10 Stonewell Road Sandy Matathia, 10 Stonewell Road Joe Ravida, Owner 52 Salem Street (Ravida Realty) John Scott, 48 Salem Street Randi Skeper, 13 John Street Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: PD called the RHC meeting to order at 6:30PM. VA was elevated to voting member Historical Commission brochure update CK gave an overview of suggested updates for the new, trifold brochure and asked for ideas. The working document will be posted in the Google drive for comment, and SB offered to help with writing the brochure. VA oral history interview Virginia Blodgett (VB), President of the Reading Antiquarian Society, interviewed VA at RCN on February S. The interview was focused on VA's service to Reading. A second interview will occur on February 13, and Sharlene Reynolds Santo(SRS), longtime RHC member, will conduct the interview. CK asked Angela Merrill, Interim Executive Director - RCTV, how to best record a "drive around historical Reading" with VA. AM suggested mounting a cell phone to a Page 1 1 F Town of Reading Meeting Minutes dashboard and recording the drive. The video could then be spliced into the RCN interviews. The drive around will be scheduled this spring. The oral interview will be preserved in the Archive and possibly at Reading Public Library. CK will follow up with Jocelyn Gould about this. The RHC is most grateful to VB and SRS for their preparation, dedication, and enthusiastic support of this project. Demolition delay bylaw survey results PD described the survey to meeting visitors. ADF presented a summary into her research on the value historical properties bring to a community. ADF also drafted a letter to Historic Homeowners that outlines the purpose and history of the Demolition Delay Bylaw in Reading. As documented before, the RHC conducted a survey of Historic Homeowners to see if there was support for extending the demolition delay from six to 12 months, and 73% of the respondents supported this idea. The group discussed how to edit the letter, including homeowner objections and refutations, and we will review the final version at the March meeting. Email response system ADF reviewed the email correspondence response system, and everyone agreed to their assignment. SC confirmed that she is receiving email from the RHC forwarding account at her new email address. Pleasant Street Center - future uses SB has been reviewing the PRA on the building and reminded us that any changes to the interior would have to be approved by MHC. 129 High Street The property has been sold. 186 Summer Ave. MHC has yet to lift the PRA. How can we get this on the MHC agenda? Public Hearing 52 Salem Street - demolition application PD called the Public Hearing to order at 7:02PM and read the Public Notice. PD summarized the Meeting Purpose and Process: 1. PD introduced the RHC and the applicants John Burns (JB) and Joe Ravida (JR). PD thanked the applicants for the open communication and for providing the RHC with the opportunity to visit the property. 2. JR stated that the house was not suited for modern living with its sloped ceilings and layout. He commented that it was not structurally sound. 3. PD read from the Form B to express the historical significance of the structure and noted that it is on the National Register of Historic Places. PD also read an email from Reading citizen Angela Binda supporting demolition delay of 52 Salem Street. Page 1 2 Town of Reading y Meeting Minutes lJl; p,f PD asked the applicant, "What does it mean that the structure is not fit for modem living?" JR answered that they want to maximize living space. The current structure is a two-family home. The applicant wants to build two new townhouses, each with four bedrooms, and a 900 square foot ADU with two bedrooms on the property. (It was determined that the Carriage House law did not apply to this situation.) As JB told us at the January meeting, he met with Glen Redmond (GR), Building Inspector, on site at 52 Salem Street to review plans for the proposed reuse of the property. GR stated that the ADU would not be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on this 23,518 square foot lot. SC asked JB if he had spoken directly to ZBA. He said no. ADF asked JR what were the structural concerns? JR stated that he was concerned with the ell and with sloping floors. The existing structure was built around an older structure, and the chimney is from the original structure. 4. Bethann and Sandy Matathia explained that they built a replica of 52 Salem Street on a different scale on Stone Well Road. They are interested in the structure of the house and asked if it could be salvaged. They have a relation who works for the National Park Service who could look at the structure. They asked the applicants if they had considered adaptive reuse to help preserve history. John Scott asked how the lot would be filled with three structures, including setback. How will the new structures change the feel of the neighborhood? Will they be too tall or oversized for the lot? What about parking? Nicole Kreszswick asked if trees would be knocked down, as she borders the property. JB stated that the trees would not be clear cut. S. There was discussion about the provenance of the mural in the hallway. Is it a Rufus Porter or is it Betsy Parker? VA read from the 1944 edition of Reading's Colonial Rooftrees, and the language implies that Miss Parker may have been the artist. Everett Blodgett (EB) stated that there is no portrait of Miss Parker at the Parker Tavern. 6. At 7:35PM, PD made a motion to close the public hearing and moved that the presented information was sufficient to make a final determination on the demolition of the structure at 52 Salem Street. SC second. Vote 5 - 0. Page 1 3 Town of Reading r' Meeting Minutes PD read Bylaw 7.2.6 (Determination of Delay) and made a motion to impose a demolition delay of up to six months effective February 11, 2026. SC second. Vote 5-0. Demolition Delay imposed. PD read Bylaw 7.2.6.3 (Release of Delay). ADF presented the applicants with a copy of Places to List Historic Homes for Sale, compiled by RHC. The North Reading Historic District Commission is interested in seeing the mural at 52 Salem Street. JB reported that the previous owners will be living there for approximately one month, and that we could visit the property after that. The Matathias again expressed their genuine interest in the frame of 52 Salem Street and would like to have their daughter-in-law, a professional structural engineer, visit the building. EB expressed interest in the history of the Parker House, particularly the wood lathe and preservation of the mural. Collaborations with RMHS and Merrimack College • Mr. Fiore (RMHS) will have the student submissions for the RHC History Award to us by March 11. • Ms. Allison's students presented their research for a Women's History walking tour of Reading on January 20 at RMHS. ADF and VA were in attendance. • Rose Marinucci (RM), our intern from Merrimack College, attended our meeting. She has been working with the historical artifacts from 52 Salem Street, particularly the house scrapbook. She may work on the transcription of Amos Parker's documents. A professor from Merrimack has loaned an overhead scanner to help expedite scanning. Utility Box Wraps - discussion postponed 32 Lincoln Street, Reading Train Depot: proposed roof repairs We will review the status of $5,000 reimbursement to James D'Amico at the March meeting. 32 Lowell Street PRA; repairs in progress SB has a new contact at MHC, Ed Bell, Deputy SHPO, whom she has asked whether an inquiry about repairs to 32 Lowell Street (PRA 6/23/1999, MPPF program) has been made. PD will contact the building owner Ralph Cecere for an update on their insurance claim for fallen granite from the building's crenellated tower. Future Events: Historic gravestone cleaning training ADF received a quote from 48 State Tour for a workshop on gravestone cleaning. She explained the process of applying to participate in the training. Approval by the Board of Cemetery Trustees is required, and we need to have a group of volunteers to attend the all -day event. Page 1 4 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes EB provided background to three sets of headstone repairs that have been undertaken at Laurel Hill Cemetery. ADF made a motion to approve up to $600 to host 48 State Tour for a day of training in Laurel Hill Cemetery, only proceeding with approval by the Board of Cemetery Trustees. PD second. Vote 4 (PD, ADF, SC, CK) - 0 - 1 (VA). 25 Haven Street: Art Deco light fixture preservation - nothing to report Catherine Moulton History of Old South Church Sandy Weston delivered materials to Town Hall in January. Further discussion regarding accession and acknowledgment was postponed. Framing and hanging of historical photos in Town Hall CK picked up the framed photos and delivered them to the Archive on January 21. SC ensured that JEB got the $2,700 invoice from Atlantic Framing. Community Preservation Act (CPA) - liaison report SB reported that the CPA study group presented their Final Report to the Select Board on February 10. The CPA will be on the April Town Meeting Warrant. Inventory: structures for sale/sold/demolished: spreadsheet updates: GIS map - The ell of 130 Main Street has been demolished. There was no communication from the building inspector in advance. CatalogIt software updates - nothing to report VA Town Archive review • RMLD has requested scans of historical photos, which ADF found in the Archive. RM will scan the images. • SC will follow up with Daphne Slocombe regarding the donation of a photo album that had belonged to Franklin Howard Gilson. • The RHC expressed their appreciation to RM for her contribution to the Archive. Finance/Treasurer's Report An envelope containing $7 was found in an Archive drawer, which will be given to JEB. Future Agenda Items • RHC plans for America 250 EB reported that the Reading Antiquarian Society has programs planned for America 250, including an encampment at Parker Tavern on September 26. He stated that a tour of border/boundary markers could be developed. Page 1 5 "O Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Review minutes from the January meeting PD moved to approve the January minutes as amended. SC second. Vote 5 - 0. At 8:49PM, PD made a motion to adjourn. CK second. Vote 5 - 0. Next meeting: March 11, 2026, at 6:30PM. Town Hall Berger Room. Documents used • Town of Reading Record No. RHC 25-2 Demolition Delay Application 52 Salem Street(1/29/2026 and 1/5/2026) • Form B 52 Salem Street • Email: Angela Binda (2/11/2026) to RHC regarding the 52 Salem Street Demolition Delay • Draft: Letter from PD to Historic Inventory Homeowners regarding Demolition Delay Bylaw extension • Draft: Homeowners' Objections to Demolition Delay Bylaw Delay Extension with Refutations • RHC Demolition Delay Bylaw Public Hearing Procedure • Places to List Historic Homes for Sale (compiled by RHC, 2/2026) Page 16