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2009 Massachusetts’ Most Endangered Historic Resources

(listed by community, in alphabetical order):

The Blackstone Viaduct, Blackstone

The Blackstone Viaduct, located in the southern portion of the Town of Blackstone, was constructed by the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad in 1872 and is associated in the struggle to construct and control competing rail lines between Boston and New York City that took place during the second half of the 19th Century. The structure consists of eleven components measuring 1,600 feet long. The multiple arch bridge viaduct is approximately 375 feet long and consists of seven Roman arches constructed of regularly coursed, quarry-faced, rectangular granite blocks.

Built in the heyday of the Blackstone River Valley’s industrial era, the Blackstone Viaduct has been identified as a significant engineering resource in Massachusetts and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This unique feature of Blackstone is a tangible piece of the canal’s history and visual reminder of the impact the Blackstone Canal had on this area of Massachusetts.

Because of the size of the structure and the limited resources available through the state, federal government and others, the viaduct faces an uncertain future and desperately needs increased visibility and financial resources. Ideas to actively reuse the viaduct as part of a bike path are in critical need of secured funding as the bridge continues to deteriorate. Hopefully this listing will strengthen the argument for funding the preservation of this masonry bridge, allowing it to once again actively serve its community.

The Caesar Robbins House, Concord

This house serves as physical evidence of Concord’s Black Heritage, built by one of Concord’s freed slaves, Caesar Robbins circa 1780. Robbins was freed along with several others as a result of a series of 1780’s court decisions declaring slavery unconstitutional in Massachusetts. Architecturally, the house is a significant example of a house-type rare in Concord today, the l-story five bay, one room deep 18th century cottage. Historically, the house served as the meeting place for at least one Concord Female Anti-Slavery Society.

This tiny cottage holds an incredible, if not widely unknown, history. Its inhabitants are direct ties to Concord’s early African-American roots. Connections to the nearby Old Manse and the Hawthorne and Emerson families give this modest home an incredibly diverse history. The immediate concern is that the town’s “Demolition Delay” for the house expired on September 12, which the current owner is free to demolish this important and evocative piece of African American history in Concord.

The incredible local efforts on the Robbins’ house behalf and progress made so far, including a generous gift toward the relocation of the house will hopefully benefit from even more visibility and support as to the importance of this house.

Peace Haven, Freetown

Peace Haven is a 600-acre site along the Taunton River in Freetown, just north of Fall River’s city boundary. Though 300 acres of the northern half is a Stop and Shop warehouse facility and the interior of the southern 300 acres was the site of the Algonquin Gas facility, its historic landscapes and features are still in pristine condition. The western side of the site is bordered by the Taunton River, which was just designated as Wild and Scenic by Congress earlier this year. It is also part of the Taunton River Greenway and bounds the SE Mass BioReserve in Fall River.

The landscape’s historic significance goes back to King Philip’s War, when in 1675 King Philip and Queen Weetamoe crossed Peace Haven while fleeing the English. Its archeological resources from this time and earlier are amazing and well documented at the State Archives. Peace Haven was utilized as a dairy farm through modern times and the construction of the gas facility. The name “Peace Haven” comes from the land’s farming days. Though not historic buildings are still remaining, the incredible landscape, cultural and archeological history make this a rare treasure in this part of the state.

Peace Haven faces a number of threats. A proposed interstate ramp on nearby Rt. 24 and siting for a commuter rail line will make Peace Haven a target for development, as the site is currently zoned industrial.

The historic landscape of Peace Haven is invisible from the road and not many people are aware of the historic, landscape and cultural assets at risk. Local advocates would like to work collaboratively with key parties to concentrate development and growth in the already industrialized portion of the site, bringing economic development while preserving and educating the public about the tremendous history of Peace Haven.

The Cisco Homestead, Grafton

Located on the three acre Hassanamisco Reservation, a reservation of the Nipmuc Nation in Grafton, the Cisco Homestead was constructed in 1801 for Lucy Gimbee, a descendant of Nipmuc Indian Moses Printer. Today, the homestead has been expanded to include 10 rooms and since 1962 it has housed a tribal museum.

This is the first historic resource listed that directly relates to Massachusetts’ Native American Heritage. This house represents a wonderful context for understanding and interpreting the culture of the Nipmuc Nation. Eligible for the State Register of Historic Places as well as the National Register of Historic Places, the Cisco Homestead faces an uncertain future. The lack of funding needed to restore this Native American historic gem has contributed to its deterioration. The estimated costs to restore the Cisco Homestead are estimated to be $300,000 proving a challenge in these financially difficult times.

Broader visibility for this homestead and its importance to Native American history will hopefully aid in funding to stabilize and restore this site and allow the Nipmuc history to continue to be shared with all.

 

Foreclosed & Abandoned Neighborhood Properties, Massachusetts

Residential properties across Massachusetts that have been foreclosed on and abandoned are still a vital part of community aesthetic and character. The potential loss, ongoing deterioration and lack of use have or will diminish the architectural integrity of many neighborhoods. From Lowell to Springfield, New Bedford to Fitchburg and Boston, these properties are more susceptible to vandalism, arson, and demolition in as depressed property values destabilize the community.

The current economic climate has made foreclosure and abandonment all too well known. They affect not only the property and the owners, but surrounding properties as the unused structure sits vacant, overgrown and extremely susceptible to severe damage or outright demolition. Many cities and towns across Massachusetts are grappling with this issue, and though local and state programs have been created to address the foreclosure issue, there is still no clear idea of how to take on the issue.

A local example in Lowell, the Charles W. Wilder House, has stood vacant and deteriorating for several years. Though it survived several fires, it is still open to the elements, at risk of vandalism, infestation, etc. The surrounding neighborhood is challenged by disinvestment that is not aided by the abandoned Wilder House. In 2008, Lowell passed a Vacant and Abandoned Properties Ordinance that holds owners of properties responsible to secure the property and register it with the city. So far, 300 have been registered but many more, like the Wilder House, sit empty and decaying.

Other communities, such as New Bedford, Springfield, and Boston, have similar vacant property ordinances and organizations like the National Vacant Properties Campaign are offering support and ideas to revitalize these disinvested neighborhoods.

Foreclosed and abandoned neighborhood properties is not just a thematic endangered listing, it is a serious issue and a call to action for not just preservationists, mayors, selectmen, citizens and all who care about their communities. Preservation Massachusetts has created a task force with our MA Preservation Coalition to begin working on assembling best practices, resources and information for all communities facing this issue. Finding ways to constructively aid against foreclosures and abandonments, sharing the ideas and promoting the successes along the way is important. Taking on these neighborhoods with a community wide approach, and not just a preservation focus is key as this is an issue that affects everyone in every community across our Commonwealth.

The Milton Poor Farm, Milton

The Town or “Poor” Farm has been part of Milton’s community fabric since 1701, when Governor William Stoughton willed a wooded lot to be used as benefit to the poor. Formally established in 1805 as a poor farm, the first almshouse was built the same year on the site. Today there is a complex of 19th century buildings still extant, including the main almshouse (1854), Men’s almshouse (1882), the Pest house (1888- used to isolate smallpox victims) and the stables. The surrounding landscape includes two agricultural fields, pasture, orchard and wooded lot. The poor farm continued in operation until 1941 and since then the buildings have been rented by the town and funds used for families in need. The entire site is 34 acres near the center of Milton and the historic layout of the buildings or site has not been altered since 1941.

These historic buildings, however, are in disrepair and there is concern that development on the site may impact their historic context. Many community members would like to see smart growth plans and development for the site that takes into account and acknowledges the historic integrity of the buildings and landscape. In an effort to determine how best the site can serve the poor of Milton, Selectmen appointed a committee to recommend options. This report, issued on October 7th (after PM announced the farm’s listing) makes a primary recommendation that the existing buildings be preserved and maintained on site and any development is reasonably scaled with quality materials with classic New England architectural style. This recommendation is extremely positive as preservation can be a partner in community and economic development.

First Baptist Church, New Bedford

Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, First Baptist Church is one of the four corner buildings anchoring City Hall Square in New Bedford, along with the Bristol County Register of Deeds building, City Hall itself, and the New Bedford Free Public Library. Completed and dedicated in 1829, this church is a two-story, wood framed building with clapboard siding that sits atop a stone foundation. It is rectangular in plan with a gabled roof featuring a two-stage belfry. The main façade is articulated by a full pediment, pilasters, and classical entablature.

Along with its religious role, First Baptist Church links to the 19th century abolition movement in New Bedford. Rev. John Overton Choules, who became minister of First Baptist in 1833, was one of four vice presidents of the Anti-Slavery Society of New Bedford upon its founding in 1834. Today his portrait hangs in the vestibule. Polly Johnson, prominent African American Abolitionist who sheltered Frederic Douglass in her home in 1838, was also a member of First Baptist.

The church faces a number of pressing threats. Its double doors at the main entrance are covered up with tarps at present because they are in unusable condition. Water infiltration has become a major issue under the siding at the rear of the building, as well as a leaking roof. The current congregation, though small in size, wants to see the church restored. The congregation has begun working with the New Bedford Preservation Society and the New Bedford Preservation Coalition on a Memorandum of Understanding for the buildings’ preservation, and as a possible home for a New Bedford History Museum. Though discussions are in the early stages, further promotion and support of this landmark church will hopefully aid in a collaborative, focused effort to repair, restore and actively reuse First Baptist Church.

 

Lincoln Square, Worcester

The Worcester Memorial Auditorium, the Worcester Boys’ Club and the Worcester County Courthouse are three structures located in close proximity to each other where the Main Street area of Worcester merges with the Lincoln Square area at a large downtown intersection. The Worcester Memorial Auditorium built in 1931-1932 as a memorial to the 9,000 Worcester citizens who served in World War I. Considered a major local landmark, the Memorial Auditorium is one of Worcester’s latest and most imposing Classical Revival buildings with classical ornament in the manner of the Art Deco Style.

The Worcester Boy’s Club is a three story brick structure of Georgian Revival design, built in 1928-1930 for the Club which had a membership of 5,300 in 1928. Symmetrically placed Ionic pilasters and an elaborate limestone entryway makes the Club an outstanding example of Georgian Revival design.

The Worcester Courthouse, built in 1843-1845, is a large granite structure of predominantly Greek Revival design. The building occupies a site which has served as the seat of Worcester County government since the county’s formation in 1731-1733. The three structures in Lincoln Square are listed on the State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

These three extraordinary structures are either underutilized or vacant. The current economic time is also a threat to these buildings with its slow business growth and diminishing funding for certain city and state projects. To see these iconic buildings sitting vacant is distressing, especially given Lincoln Square’s location as an anchor of Main Street and a gateway to many of the city’s amazing architectural neighborhoods. Its location to many other historic and economically important buildings is key in addressing the active and vital reuse of these buildings so we do not risk losing the architectural and historic integrity of these Worcester landmarks.