2004 Ten Most Endangered

Historic Resources of Massachusetts

Amesbury Public Library, Amesbury

   The Romanesque Revival building that houses the Public Library was designed by architect Penn Varney in 1900 and opened in 1902. As one of the most recognizable images in Amesbury, it graces old postcards as well as local history books and sits just outside the Amesbury and Salisbury Mills Village National Register District, to which the Library would be considered a contributing property.

  The major threat to the Public Library is demolition and alteration. The current Board of Trustees has filed a demolition permit, and plans to remove half the Library and create a “contrasting” addition. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has initially approved the project. Within Amesbury there is a grass roots effort in opposition to the proposed demolition and the Amesbury Historical Commission is considering acting upon Amesbury’s demolition delay ordinance, while locals are calling for more alternatives to the proposed demolition and addition. Many community activists seek an addition that would preserve the ill-fated rear wing and maintain much of the original historic significance.

Historic Religious Complexes, The Boston Archdiocese

  Built over numerous years, encompassing varying styles and representing different backgrounds and ethnicities, religious properties of the Boston Archdiocese are multi-faceted. These properties have benefited and served the communities within the Archdiocese not only as houses of worship, but as schools, convents, parish houses and rectories. Each building or complex is a keystone to the individuals and organizations in the communities they serve d.

  With the Archdiocese’s restructuring of parishes, numerous complexes face closure and uncertain futures. These buildings carry with them an emotional tie that no numerical rating system or RFP can properly convey. These buildings should be looked at as more than just church structures, but as integral parts of their community. Their value should me measured as more than just proceeds from a sale or development, but as landmarks defining the community. They are therefore worthy of a well considered future.

Perkins-Richardson House, Brookline

  This timber frame residence sits on a prominent 70,000 square foot lot above Cottage Street, part of Brookline’s Green Hill National Register District. Speculation surrounds the early beginnings of the house and it is believed that Samuel Gardner Perkins built the original section around 1803. Additions from subsequent owners expanded the house, but its most prominent owner was famous 19 th century architect Henry Hobson Richardson. The significance of the house is not necessarily as evidence of his signature style, though Richardson made several additions especially to his bedroom which featured Middle Eastern motifs and cork panels by which he could view architectural drawings. Richardson lived in this house from 1874 until 1886, and it was during this period he designed his most important buildings. He died in his bedroom in this house in 1886.

  T he most imminent threat for the Perkins-Richardson house is deferred maintenance. The property is currently vacant and jointly owned and offered for sale by the two abutting property owners who obtained a demolition permit to “protect their interests” if, in fact, a new owner could not be found. Brookline Preservation Commission enacted a demo-delay in 1999 but it expired after one year. Future plans for the property could include restoration as a single family house protected by appropriate preservation restrictions securing its heritage.

Maple Street Bridge , Chester

  The Maple Street Bridge , built in 1900, spans the western branch of the Westfield River in the town of Chester . It is a single “Pratt-through truss” steel bridge with a cantilevered pedestrian walkway along the eastern side of the bridge, decorated with a Lattice/Gothic arch guardrail. Originally the main portion of the bridge was wooden but was changed to steel to accommodate both carriages and automobiles. The bridge connects to Maple Street with its modest Greek Revival homes in the Chester Factory Village , but also links its rural setting to another place in time.

  The bridge faced demolition in 1994 by the Mass. Highway Department and was saved when Chester received a grant for an engineering study and complete rehabilitation. The study was completed in 1995 , but to date MHD has made no progress with the rehabilitation contract. Continued delay threatens the bridge until rehabilitation is potentially no longer an option.

The Garden Theatre, Greenfield

  Built from 1928-1929, the Colonial Garden Theatre is in the middle of Greenfield ’s Central Main Street National Register District. The theater was designed by Mowll & Rand of Boston , with an “atmospheric” auditorium featuring significant theatrical murals painted by Frederick Marshall depicting a colonial garden.

  Lack of substantial maintenance, including various leaks and damage to the masonry, contribute to the theatre’s run down appearance and pose a significant threat. Despite the Garden’s being the only theatre left in Greenfield , the current owner apparently lacks interst in preforming any required maintenance or preservation. The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority, among others seeking renewal of the downtown, views the Garden as key to the town’s revitilization, standing as a cultural and artistic landmark.

Great Meadow, Hadley

  Great Meadow is a planting field adjoining the Connecticut River and protruding nearly two miles from the original center of Hadley, in Western Massachusetts . In 1661 the town settlers divided the field they named “Great Meadow” and allotted parcels to individuals.

  Clearly the townspeople recognized the rich agricultural benefits and value of the land. The land has been farmed constantly since the seventeenth century, and is still comprised of individually owned and operated lots. It is perhaps one of the lone surviving examples of an open field farmed by freeholders, a common practice in medieval Europe . It sits adjacent to original homelots, the town common, and the 1661 burial ground. The agricultural fields were included on the Hadley Center National Register District created in 1994.

  The deep soil, lack of rocks, etc. makes the Great Meadow ideal for building, a fate it has long avoided. However, current zoning in Hadley allows usage of some parcels for “residential” and “commercial” purposes. As housing demand booms, development and construction on this land becomes a very tangible possibility, encroaching further on already sparse open spaces. The Kestrel Trust and local citizens hope to keep the Great Meadow intact, feeling any development on its expanse would compromise and detract from its historical integrity and character.

Connecticut River Railroad Station, Holyoke

  The Connecticut River Railroad Station in Holyoke resulted from collaboration between H.H. Richardson and Frederick Law Olmstead to plan several train stations along the Boston-Albany and the Connecticut River lines. Designed by Richardson, himself, in his namesake style, the Holyoke structure is painstakingly engineered into its surrounding landscape and positioned to form an axis between the gateway welcoming immigrants to the city and Immaculate Conception, the neighborhood church (2003 Ten Most Endangered).

  The current owner purchased the building in 1965 after it had ceased to operate as a functioning train station. Despite the owner’s intention to save it in remembrance of his first arrival after emigration from Canada , the station has only been used for storage of auto parts. Once a handsome example of a Richardson Train Station, boarded up windows, plant growth, and general disrepair evidence its deterioration. Now the building is in danger of arson, vandalism, and demolition by neglect. Despite its present condition, the station remains core to downtown Holyoke ’s plans for the future Depot Square Historic District and is bordered by an expanse of rehabilitated mill space as well as the Historic Canal District. Restoration and reuse of this fabulous building would bring renewed life to the neighborhood and remind us of the jewel that is Holyoke .

Common Pasture, Newburyport

   Spread between Newburyport , Newbury, and West Newbury , this roughly one thousand acres of grassy lowlands has been a working landscape for over three hundred years, primarily used for pasture and haying.

  As is the case for many existing open spaces, development is a constant threat. With its extremely large expanse, the pasture is especially challenged since it is controlled by three different sets of municipal zoning regulations representing each community through which it spreads. Residents have expressed concern for the pasture’s future at town meetings and encouraged town officials to work with appropriate agencies to secure formal protections for the entire Common Pasture area. The imminent threat is evidenced in that permitting processes are already underway for proposed development on a wooded section near the south end of the pasture. The land represents a feeling of “home” to the community and preserves our working heritage. This legacy must be ensured .

Alvah Kittredge House, Roxbury

  This is a two-story Greek Revival mansion built by Alvah Kittredge, a native of Roxbury and successful merchant. He had purchased several large parcels of land in the Roxbury Highlands in the 1830’s and built this house for himself in 1836. Kittredge was one of several investors who began developing the area as a dense residential suburb in the second half of that remain there today.

Vacant for over a decade, the mansion suffers from a lack of routine maintenance and critical repairs. Its rate of decay has accelerated noticeably in recent years. Severe rot in the portico column bases threaten their stability, causing one to be removed completely this past summer. Column shifting has buckled the portico entablature and one of the chimneys has collapsed onto the roof. Arson and vandalism are serious issues as well.

  Roxbury Action Program, owners of the building, abandoned its use due to the high costs of heating it and subsequent attempts have not been successful in securing grants for the much needed work on the property. Locals feel frustration that such a prominent building continues to decay, and improvement trends in the immediate area indicate that the neighborhood is viable and could well support renovation and reuse. Such a fine example of Greek Revival architecture and an important piece of Roxbury’s development history is worthy of a community sensitive solution

Fire Alarm & Telegraph Building , Worcester

   The Fire Alarm & Telegraph Building was built in 1925-1926 to house the central relay station for Worcester ’s fire alarm system. This brick building with limestone trim, steeply pitched slate roof, and pilastered chimney is an excellent example of very late Gothic revival style. It was designed and construction personally supervised by renowned Worcester architect, Lucius W. Briggs. Though he is better known for designing greater edifices in Worcester such as the War Memorial Auditorium, South High School , and Worcester Country Club, this more insignificant project was one of his favorites. He was concerned with the execution of every small detail of the building and even ensured that it fit the residential nature of its surrounding neighborhood.

  Much of the original character of the building is still retained today despite damage from lack of use, deferred maintenance, and neglect. Currently, only a portion of the building is used by the School Plant Department for storage with the remainder vacant. Roof leaks have caused significant damage, but the building’s extraordinarily rugged construction has kept it essentially intact. Multiple recent reuse inquiries demonstrate the potential viability of this very “ Worcester ” building and offer an opportunity for the surrounding community to take pride in its regeneration.