Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
Board: Colin Smith, Chair, Eleanor Fitzgerald, Stefania Jha, and Mary Spindler
Town: Elaine Carroll
Guests: Jack MacLean, Historian
Andrew Ory, 15 Sandy Pond Road
Kathi Anderson, Director of Walden Woods Project
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 10, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Building Department, Town Offices
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minutes of the April 8, 2003 meeting were approved with corrections, which will be made.
15 Sandy Pond Road:
Andrew Ory came before the Board to discuss the installation of a house marker. He apologized to the members saying that he did not realize that the marker would require HDC approval. Mr. Ory said that they had a small fire in the attic several months ago and the Fire Department said that the house needed to be signed. The marker is a gift from his architect. He brought in pictures of the proposed granite post showing the porcelain marker for the number. Colin felt that chiseling out the numbers would be a better way and suggested that instead of the post he could use the rock, which is already at the entrance of the driveway. Mr. Ory felt that the rock would be covered up during the winter by plowed snow. Mr. Ory said that the granite post is original to the property and the
number would be seen from both directions, and he is not sure that this would be the case if on the rock. Mr. Ory will make some sketches and get back to the members, at which time a decision will be made without needing another formal meeting.
Other Business:
Higginson House (Thoreau Institute), Baker Farm Road:
Jack MacLean came before the Board to request that the HDC send a letter to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which would recommend placing the Higginson House on the National Register as an individual structure. He said that, although the Thoreau Institute would like to see a National Register District proposal, two owners of former Higginson-estate structures have presently decided that they would not like to be part of a National Register proposal. The Thoreau Institute does not wish to go forward with any plans that would not have the full support of the neighbors. These issues were discussed at a recent neighborhood meeting. Mr. MacLean gave the members a copy of the Form B application to be submitted to the Mass. Historical Commission. The members voted unanimously in favor of
writing a letter of recommendation to the Mass. Historical Commission to include the Higginson House on the National Register. Colin Smith will prepare the letter and give it to Jack MacLean later this week. Mr. MacLean also gave the members a copy of the historical background of the Baker Farm Road properties.
Mr. MacLean also presented the members with a copy of a list of 23 of the properties, which the members had starred as being the most desirable properties for inclusion into the Historic Districts. The list gave a brief review of each property and will be reviewed by the members and discussed at a future meeting. Stefania Jha thought that these individual properties would be a good place to start instead of looking at entire neighborhoods. Colin said that he had not heard back from the Codman Trust regarding the possibility of receiving funding from them to help finance the work necessary for researching properties being considered for the Historic Districts. He also said that he would contact Nancy Nelson of the Minuteman National Park Service to see if they have any funds available for this
project. There was also a discussion about having Nancy Nelson give a presentation regarding the work being done at the National Park. It was suggested that if this were held at the Library, perhaps more people would attend. Colin said that he would also ask her if this were something she would be interested in doing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
| 
