Arlington Historical Commission
Minutes for the Meeting of
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Whittemore-Robbins House, 7:45 p.m.
Call to Order: Richard Duffy, Co-Chairman, presiding, with Co-Chair JoAnn Robinson. Commissioners Patrick Guthrie, Pamela Meister, Dianne Schaefer, Absent: Commissioners Jane Becker and Eric Strange; Associate Alex Frisch.
Review of Minutes: Motion made to postpone review of May minutes and review of minutes from June 22 special meeting. There were no Commission meetings held in July 2009 or August 2009.
Communications Received:
- Call from Larry Koff of L. Koff Associates. Mr. Duffy had a telephone discussion with Mr. Koff, who is consulting with the Arlington Redevelopment Board, on this Commissions role in reviewing signage and façade improvements for businesses in Arlington Center. Mr. Duffy reviewed the jurisdiction as it relates to the Arlington Center National Register Historic District. And described the Commission’s role in past and current projects.
- Call regarding 96 Orvis Circle. Rear window replacement. Less than 25% change; no jurisdiction. Memo sent to Building Department.
- Call regarding 40 Walnut Street. Replacement of three windows on separate facades. Less than 25% total change. No jurisdiction. Memo sent to Building Department.
- Calls from Chief Robert Jefferson of the Arlington Fire Department. General discussion with Mr. Duffy of matters concerning renovation of the Central and Highland fire houses. Further discussions to be scheduled to review historical artifacts and images maintained at the Arlington Fire Department.
- Call from Harry McCabe regarding Margaret E. Spengler memorial proposals. See discussion item at 8:00pm below.
- Demolition permit requested for 56 Hodge Road. Not on Inventory.
- Call regarding wall outside 24 Stony Brook Road. Explained that this Commission did not have jurisdiction over fences and walls and that further inquiries should be directed to the Building and Zoning Department.
- Call from Paul Fiori, architect. General information regarding 25 Kensington Park.
- Ms. Robinson reported on stone in Old Burying Ground placed there without permission by the Smith family. The stone was placed there 5 years ago.
Reports of other Town Boards and Historical Organizations:
- Arlington Preservation Fund (Frisch) – Nothing to report.
- Zoning By-Law Review Committee (Stange) – Nothing to report.
- Arlington Historical Society (Duffy) – Nothing to report.
Old Schwamb Mill (Duffy) – Nothing to report.
- Arlington Historic Districts Commission (Frisch) – Mr. Frisch writes that two projects are of particular interest: (i) conversion of the barn at 159 Pleasant Street into a residence and (ii) possible construction of a building on Elder Terrace.
- Mill Brook Linear Park Study Committee (Robinson)-Submitted grant to state for feasibility study.
Historical Commission FY 2009 Budget – Nothing to report.
Projects Proceeding under Hearings and Approvals:
- 3-5 Brattle Street (Fertman) 4/02 Stange – Tyvek on first floor.
- 821 Massachusetts Avenue (Noyes RT) 10/03; modified 4/08 Duffy – Nothing to report.
- Symmes Hospital (Town of Arlington) 6/04 Duffy –Nothing to report.
- 21 Appleton Street (Colosimo) 4/08 Robinson – Tyvek over addition; door added.
- 18 Water Street (Callahan) 7/08 Robinson – Ms. Robinson spoke to Brian Callahan. Has approval to create addition to back of main house block. The L shape in back will be torn down. Mr. Callahan declined to come before the Commission to talk about plans and is requesting a non-conforming building permit. There are also plans to have the house gutted. The house will remain on the inventory.
- 3 Brantwood Road (aka 22 Kensington Park) (Anesse) 9/08 Robinson – porch steps and door need to be done; project is almost complete.
- 43-45 Massachusetts Ave. (Shapiro) 7/08 Schaefer – Nothing to report.
- 11-13 Peirce Street (AHA) Duffy- Nothing to report.
- 71 Walnut Street (Brown) 3/09 Guthrie-pump staging on side of house.
- 323-329 Broadway (Mazmanian) 4/09 Schaefer- almost complete. Questions regarding the egg and dart pattern with crisp relief; review the order.
- 53 Brattle Street (Slebodnick) 6/09 Guthrie- Nothing to report.
Continuing Projects
- Whittemore Robbins House (and outbuildings): Robinson – Nothing to report.
- Arlington Civic Block Garden: Robinson – Working on library wall. Proposal for pulling soil away from the back of the wall from Carol R. Johnson Associates, Inc.
- Inventory Expansion and Review: Duffy, Robinson – Nothing to report.
- Education/Outreach: Duffy/Robinson – Mr. Duffy’s “History of Arlington Street Names” series in the Advocate continues to appear monthly. The property at 28 Higgins Street (the Ira L. Russell House) was discussed in both the July and August installments. This property is on the Inventory and under the jurisdiction of this Commission.
- Historic House Markers: Duffy – Orders have resumed effective 9/1. (i) 12 Schouler Court-owner Jack Carey; (ii) 26 Franklin Street-owner Jane McDonald
- Town Hall: Duffy – Nothing to report.
- Web Site: Stange – No report.
Discussion and Hearing:
8:00 Informal Hearing
Review and comments on proposal from Public Memorials Committee for honoring the life and contributions of the late Margaret E. Spengler.
Committee members present: Don Marquis, Mark Spengler, Joyce Radochia and Harry McCabe.
The Margaret H. Spengler Memorial Committee presented proposed recommendations:
- Changing the name of Library Way to Peg Spengler Way
- Commissioning a bronze memorial plaque with a bust of Mrs. Spengler in bas-relief and suitable text.
Commissioners comments regarding changing name of Library Way.
Library Way is not a historic name, so renaming it is not objectionable. The Commissioners conveyed their endorsement of a name change that would provide such a natural opportunity to honor women’s history in municipal government.
Discussion regarding Plaque and Placement:
- Selectman referred to the Commission for consultation. A number of sites were mentioned by the Spengler Committee for placement of plaque: (i) under street sign, (ii) on Massachusetts Ave. on wall outside public gardens, (iii) inside library, (iv) in grass to right or left of entrance to library.
- Commissioners were not in favor of attaching any objects to the 177-year old fine masonry exterior of the building, and to disrupting the tradition of there being any name on the outside of Robbins Library that was other than “Robbins,” who made a gift of the library to the town.
- Mrs. Spengler, as the first woman elected as selectman, would appropriately be memorialized at town hall.
- Olmsted wall is under a preservation restriction and the wall will have to be replaced at some point.
- Mr. Duffy, the regular monitor for the Commission for the interior and exterior of Town Hall, will meet with the Memorial Committee for possible plaque locations on September 2, 2009 at 4:30pm at Town Hall.
Informal hearing closed at 8:34pm.
Old Business:
New Business: Town Day - Saturday, September 25. Historic Districts Commission is running the booth.
Adjourn at 9:07pm
The next Arlington Historical Commission meeting will be October 6, 2009, at 7:45pm
For the Arlington Historical Commission, Victoria Rose, Recording Secretary.
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