Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 10, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
Board: Colin Smith, Chair, Eleanor Fitzgerald, Ken Hurd, Stefania Jha, David Ries and Mary Spindler
Town: Elaine Carroll
Guests: Jack MacLean, Historian
Henry Hoover, Jr., 154 Trapelo Road
Timothy Taylor, Attorney for Lexington Road Development LP
Sara Mattes, Board of Selectmen
Jim Cunningham, 124 Lexington Road
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 15, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Town Offices
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Minutes of the May 6, 2003 meeting were approved as written.
118 Lexington Road (demolish existing barn):
Tim Taylor, representing the owners, Lexington Road Development Limited Partnership, came before the Board to discuss a request to demolish the existing barn at 118 Lexington Road. They had already received permission from the Board to demolish the existing farmhouse at that location on April 2, 2001. Mr. Taylor said that no one has expressed interest in the barn and that it was acknowledged by a Professor in Vermont and barn movers that it was a packaged barn, manufactured by a company as a kit but had no idea when it was built, but that the floor was built in 1933 and the barn probably in the early 20th Century. He said that the support was so-so, the roof leaks and the electrical wiring is way below code. No builder is interested in the barn as is. Barn movers said that it would
be more expensive to dismantle the barn and move it than it would be to build a new barn. The stalls were added in the last 10 years and are removable. If the cluster development were approved, the barn would be in the way of one of the proposed houses. Mr. Taylor said that there was no guarantee that it would be demolished even if permission were granted. The house has not been demolished yet. Anyone interested in purchasing the land with the barn intact would have to buy 3 lots to keep the barn where it is. Sara Mattes said that the barn and field in front should be preserved as a “viewscape” of interest to the Town. It was actively used by the Bowles family as a farm and has historic value to the community as one of the last working farms. Jim Cunningham, an abutter, agreed that the barn itself is not in good shape but if a new one is built, it should be historically built. A modern barn would not look good. Sara Mattes urged the members to make further inquiries,
including talking to Chief Bowles whose family owned the farm for many years. A motion was made to defer the vote until the next meeting so that the applicant could do more research because the information was incomplete. The motion passed unanimously.
Other Business:
Higginson House (Thoreau Institute), Baker Farm Road:
As requested by Jack MacLean, Colin Smith showed the members a copy of a letter he sent to the Massachusetts Historical Commission on behalf of the HDC supporting the nomination of the Higginson House for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
Jack MacLean also asked the members to send a letter in support of adding 9 Baker Farm Road, the Billing-Miles-Baker House (also known as the John Billing House) on the National Register as an individual structure. Jane Langton is the current owner and is in favor of being placed on the National Register but two abutters are opposed to being placed on the National Register and the local Historic Districts. Mr. MacLean gave the members a criteria statement form for this property. The members voted unanimously in favor of writing a letter of recommendation to the Mass. Historical Commission to include the Billing-Miles-Baker house on the National Register. Colin Smith will prepare the letter.
Codman Trust Funds:
Colin Smith informed the members that the Codman Trust has agreed to help to complete the historic survey of buildings in Lincoln by donating $10,000.00 for this purpose. Mr. Smith gave the members a copy of his letter thanking the Codman Trust and also a letter to the Selectmen asking for their approval of this donation and also their support for the project.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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