1973-09-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMM[SSION A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held at 7145 P.M. on Wednesday, September 11, 1973, in the 3electmen'.s Meeting Room, Tawn Office ~l~gs Lexington. Present were Commissioners Wilber M. Jaquith, Chair-Y man; Philip B. Parsons, Secretary; Georgia. H. Williams; and Associate Com- missioners Royston T. Daley and Oliver F. Hooper. Imo. Iiooper was appointed to serve for Commissioner Thomaa J. Holsbog who was unable to be present. Mr, Daley was appointed to serve for Commissioner Donald J. Shaw who was un- able to be present. An informal meeting was held at 7150 P.M. with Ellison F. Beckwith, Chairman of the Fire Engine Committee of file Lexington Historical Society. Mr. Jaquith read a letter from Mr. Beckwith regarding the barn at the rear of the Society's property on Hancock Street. The barn is of wood construc- tion with no windows and double door and has dry rot. The 1911 Fire Engine. 1857 Pumper, tires, miscellaneous fire equipment, and old brinks from the foundation of the Hancock-Clarke House are ordina.ril~; stored i.n the barn. The Society would like to cement up the foundation resulting in a cement wa]1 with no stones visible or point up and repair the existing stone foundation; also do something to the exterior of the building to make more fireproof. Mr. Beckwith said that the foundation stone could be pointed up acid that there is some cement mortar between some of the stones and that the missing mortar could be replaced. Following discussion, it was determined that re- placing missing stones and replacing and repairing the cement mortar was pos- sible and that this would be considered maintenance work and thus xould not require a hearing before the Commission. Mr. Beckwith said that he had dis» cussed the problem of making fire .resistant with the National Fare Protection Society in Boston and others who had told him that the only fire resistant material now available is aluminum siding. Mr. Daley said that a fire resis- tant paint had been developed for the space program. Mr. Beckwith said that there was only $100.00 difference in cost of painting the barn versus in» stalling aluminum siding. Mr. Daley said that aluminum siding is not vandal» proof although it might .be more fire resistant. Mr. Daley added that wood probably is more vandalproof than either aluminum or vinyl siding. Mr. Beckwith asked if the Society could replace worn or missing clapboards and repaint the barn white and was told that these would be maintenance rather than an exterior architectural change and thus would not require a hearing before the Commission. Mr. Jaquith said that the Commission has not approved aluminum siding for buildings in viex of any of the three historic buildings in Lexington as this is changing the character of a building in historic areas. Mr. Jaquith said that, if the Society could. prove to the Commission that aluminum siding was essential for protection of the barn, then the Com- mission might approve its use with a condition inserted in the Certificate of Appropriateness that the Commission might require removal of the siding at a future time. The meeting was ad3ourned at 850 P.M. Mr. Jaquith said that two applications for Certificates of Appropriate- ness with respect to the erection and display of signs have been received and hearings were scheduled for Wednesday, October 17th » one is a directional sign to Belfry Hill which the Town of Lexington wishes to erect on the for» mer Harrington property on Massachusetts Avenue and the other is for a sign for Lexington Toymaker, Ina. for a store at 10-12 Muzzey Street.