1976-05-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMIrffSSION A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday, May 19, 1974, in Room 111 of the Town Office Building, Lexington. Present were Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman; Georgia H. Williams, Secre- tary; Thomas J. Holzbog; 3. Lawrence Whipple; and Associate Commissioner Oliver F. Hooper. Mr. Hooper was appointed to serve for Commissioner Amelia G. Samoylenko. A discussion on the application of the Town of Lexington for a Cer- tificate of Appropriateness with respect to the erection of a new flagpole to replace the existing wood flagpole on the Common, which is within the Battle Green District, was held. Following this discussion, the following three votes were adopted: Mrs. Williams moved, seconded by Mr. Hooper that, after considering the efforts made by the applicant to locate a new wooden flagpole, it is the determination of the Commission that the replacement of the existing wooden flagpole on the Common by a flagpole fabricated of steel pipe is inappropriate for the purposes of the Historic Districts Act which requires that Lexington's historic places be preserved and protected by the develop- went and maintenance of appropriate settings for such places, said metal flagpole being inappropriate for the following reasons: ~ 1. The wooden flagpole has been a traditional focal point on the Commons of New Englad towns, including Lexington, for many years and re- placement of the wooden flagpole on the Lexington Common with a metal flag- pole will change a traditional monument believed to have existed on the Common for over 125 years. 2. The existing wooden flagpole has historic significance in it- self in that it is the original flagpole to fly the American flag 24 hours a day in commemoration of the First Battl® of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, as authorized by a Special Act of Congress, and, from an historical standpoint, a metal flagpole is not a satisfactory substitute for this wooden flagpole. 3. Installation of a fabricated metal flagpole on Lexington's Common may modify the inter-relationship of the flagpole to the old hist- orical monuments on the Common and change the atmosphere of simplicity and authenticity which has been the traditional goal pursued for the preserva- tion and appearance of the historically signifionnt Common over the years. The above motion was unanimously VOTID. Mr. Hooper moved, seconded by Mr. Holabog that, owing to conditions especially affecting the flagpole imrolved, but not affecting the Battle Green Historic District generally, failure to approve the application wi].1 irnolve a substantial hardship to the applicant beoause it appears that a suitable replacement in a wooden flagpole is not available and, if the ap- plication is disapproved, it wi1,1 not be possible for the Town to have a flagpole on the Common which will be comparable to the existing flagpole in size, height and statelin®ss. The above motion was unanimously VOTED.