HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-01-26-LBC-min.pdf 474
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BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Minutes--January 26, 1972
In the absence of King Howard, Warren Butters called the meeting
to order at 7 30 Other members present were Ray Barnes Doris Pullen,
Roland Greeley, and Becky Nussdorfer For the newly formed Site Committee
there were four members present Jackie Davison, Dick Beamon, Russell Mann,
and Mary Lou Burri Mr H Morse Payne attended the meeting in place of
John Nichols of the Boston Society of Architects Mr Payne is a Lexington
resident and very interested in the plans for the Bicentennial
Mr Butters reviewed the LBC activities for the benefit of those new
members The importance of the immediate work toward clarifying plans
for the permanent memorial and the site selection was stressed The list
of those nominated at the January 12th meeting was read Absent were
Martin Gilman, nominated by the Historical Society; Bob Reynolds of the
CC, and Louis Bongiorno from the Rotary Ed Worthen declined and Becky
Nussdorfer is off the list, her duties being stri4tly to LBC
The concern of this meeting was to define the problems and the first
steps to be undertaken. The building under consideration must house exhibits
not specifically related to the historic houses; there must be storage
room and opportunity for research Mr Greeley outlined Mr Olsen's
plans presented to the LBC on January 12 The fact that there will be two
rooms seating 100 each at the park, may justify re-orientation of LBC plans
Mr. Greelev said The permanent memorial mtRr have display and_archive_spaco
At the March Town meeting, the LBC will be expected to report progress as
to where the building will be, its size and cost Warren outlined the
site possibilities
1 Buchman Tavern grounds - outbuilding replica or separate structure
2 Red Cross House site
3 Hancock School - scheduled to be abandoned
4 Expanded Library
5 Harrington Property - LBC should not completely eliminate possibility,
of using this site
6 Episcopal Church property - Possible as parking
page 2
There is unanimous feeling that the museum should be close to the
Green. Warren told the new site-committee members present that they
must choose a site; decide on the structure and its size; figure costs,
operating costs and how to finance Funding can be private, by some
sort of drive, or corporation gifts; by the town, state and/or federal
funds The permanent memorial must be open all year and be operated
independently of Historical Society Houses
Mr Payne said we must figure dollar costs, square footage, and
the site as soon as possible but thought this could be done in the
time allowed
Mr Beamon said the Lions had tried to negotiate to obtain some
of the Red Cross House lands, but had no luck It takes an act of
legislation to have such property deeded to a private group
Mr Payne urged the committee to look at the various site possibi-
lities critically and identify a chosen site They should define needs-
entrances, displays, meeting room, comfort problems etc; they should
come to some conclusion about a dollar figure - figure ways of financing;
operation difficulties; parking; whether to use the present visitors
center Warren indicated that there is some data available from the
historical society but not much definite information as to the needs of
the Historical Society for the building Mr Greeley suggested that
there is the Doolittle print of the Buckman Tavern available which
shows the out-buildings present in 1775
The site committee members decided to meet at the Visitors Center
on Saturday January 29 at 10 00 a m. They will then look over all
the suggested sites Jackie will also ask either Helen Davis or
Larry Whipple of the Historical Society to accompany them. Morse Payne
was added to the members of the site committee
At this time, attention was turned to the geest invited for this {
evening George Cooper was present representing the Boy Scouts He is
the Minuteman district chairman (Bill Krag is the Lexington Chairman.)
Doris mentioned that there is activity by Boy Scout officials concerning
the Bicentennial at the National level Mr Cooper described the walk
the Boy Scouts have taken the past three or four years on April 18th and
19th following the trail of Paul Revere They start at Old North Church
and walk throught the night to Lexington, camp there and then are on to
page 3 i
Concord and Old North Bridge the following morning They have hopes of
getting a patch for this So far they have been unsuccessful in having
the route designated an historic trail However, they think they might
be able to get the distance form Lexington to Concord so designated
Mr Cooper feels that the Boy Scouts could mf+fer service such as first aid
during the celebration
Mrs Phyllis Baldwin attended the meeting representing the Girl
Scouts She said that nothing had Yet been discussed by the Girl Scouts
She thought that some sort of service project would be proper
Ray Barnes said that Red Cross is very interested in participating
in the Bicentennial
Mr Mann reported that the contest for a symbol design is underway
at the schools,
Mr Greeley suggested that LBC not invite guests for the February 9
meeting but leave it open so that we can concentrate on plans for the
February 17th meeting in Estabrook Hall
The next meeting will be held on February 9, 1972 Meeting adjourned
at 9 30 P M.
Respectfully submitted,
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Becky Nsdorffer c (-f`p)