HomeMy WebLinkAbout1937-05-1413
' BOARD OF APPEALS 1V=TIUG
May 14, 1937.
A meeting of the Board of Appeals was held in the Sel-
ectmen's Room, Town Office B.a.ilding, at 8:00 P. M. o'clock.
Chairman Maddison, 1.2essrs. Kimball and Glynn, and Associate
Member John A Lyons were present. In the absence of Mr.
Robbins, Mr. Glynn was appointed Clerk Pro -tem.
At 8:00 o'clock hearing was declared open upon the appli-
cation of J. 'Willard Hayden for permission to construct and
maintain charitable institutions for the care and support of
children, also greenhouses, playgrounds and recreation build-
ings incident thereto, at No. 110 Shade Street and extending
to and along 'Keston Street.
The notice of the hearing was read by the Clerk Pro -tem.
Mr. Hayden appeared with his attorney, Mr. Henry VV. Beal.
There were about twenty other people present, also.
Mr. Hayden said that it was his intention to remodel the
' present building on the property formerly used as his resi-
dence and to make it into a year-round residence, and to
follow that up with the construction of a building suitable
fore
or �g�}g housing of children. He said that he could not go into
veryJaRail because his plans were rather vague. He said
tha he did not want to construct the new building or alter
the residence unless he was assured that he woo,ld have the
privilege of leaving the place to be carried on after his death
as he intended to carry it on before his death. Mr. Hayden
said that it was his idea in a general way to alter over the
house into a permanent residence, clean un that area and take
it out of the so-called "land development#` area, and eventually
to deed it to a form of children's charity that could maintain.
the place in the same way that he will leave it.
The Chairman asked if this would be an extension of his
home or if it would be a new building in addition to that.
Mr. Hayden said that it would be a new building. He said
that he did not have any children of his own, and no one to
leave anything to, and what he would like to do is to leave
the place,for a charitable purpose.
The Chairman asked if he had any idea when he would
build, and he replied in the negative. If his petition is
granted, he will start on the plans, however. He said that
the thing would be developed slowly, as there is a great deal
to be done. There is nothing there now but an abandoned
' estate, and regardless of the action of this Board, Mr. Hayden
said that he intended to tear down the building, as there was
no sense in leaving it as it is now.
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Mr. Lyons asked if the purpose of the whole plan was
to assist children, and Mr. Hayden said that it was. He wants
to bring out here a group of children for from two to six
weeks' periods, and give them a chance that they have never
had. He said that the place had a sentimental value to him,
as it was the setting of the first winter carnival that
Lexington ever had and it was the site of the first pageant
that Lexington ever had. Mr. Hayden said that in building
"Journey's End", it was his hope that the place would be
"Journey's End" for him.
Mr. Glynn asked if it was Mr. Hayden's plan to have the
children there while he was in residence, and he replied in
the affirmative. Mr. Glynn asked what the ages of the children
would be, and he said that they would be under twelve years
old. He said that he wanted to give the children a chance
to get built up. Mr. Glynn asked if there would be any
mental cases, and he replied in the negative. Mr. Glynn
asked how many buildings Mr. Hayden intended to build, and
he said that he wanted to take care of about forty or fifty
children, and thought that one building would take care of
that many. He said that the new building would probably be
located in the section that was the setting for the first
pageant. The pond, which will have to be build over, is
nearby. Mr. Glynn asked how close that would be to Shade
Street, and he replied that it would be about one hundred and
fifty feet from Shade Street and about three hundred feet
from Weston Street, and about six hundred or seven hundred
feet from the residence.
Mr. Hayden said that he had purchased the Compton farm,
which comes within one hundred and fifty feet of the Concord
Turnpike, and the adjoining land to the left of the bungalow
up to the last house that was built there. He said that he
would not build any more buildings, but would landscape the
other land.
Mr. Glynn asked Mr. Hayden if he had ever had any exper-
ience taking care of a crowd of children before, and he said
that he had not, except when h1a took two hundred on an out-
ing one day.
Mr. Glynn asked if he thought they would have a tendency
to wander off the premises, and Mr. Hayden said that he had
about seventy-five acres, which he thought would be enough bo
the children would not wander off.
Mr. Kimball asked if Mr. Hayden had any particular place
in mind that he intended to get the children from, and he said
that he had talked with two or three organizations, but was
not at liberty to say which ones they were.
Thr. Hayden said that the building he would construct
would be residential in appearance,.not institutional. It
would not look like the Farrington Memorial, for instance.
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' Mr. Glynn stated that it was Mr. Hayden's wish to make
provisions for this proposition to be carried on after he
was gone, and that the permit he was seeking was a permit
that would be moreor less indefinite.
Mr. Hayden said that that was what he was seeking, and
he desired it as he would then be enabled to proceed with-
out being tied down.
Mr. Robert J. Fawcett; representing the W. Lexington
Improvement Association, said that a meeting of that body
had been held, and the association is very much in favor
of the granting of Mr. Hayden's petition, and thought it
would benefit the community a great deal. The organization'
represents about eighty families.
Mr. William P. Knecht of 68 Shade Street stated that it
was a pleasure to appear in favor of the granting of this
petition. He thought that this would be an asset to the
community and to the town.
Mr. Knecht said that he thought the residents would
enjoy seeing the children vacationing in what he considers
one of the most beautiful sections of Lexington.
Mr. Geoffrey L. Pippette said that he wanted to go on
record as being in favor of the granting of the permit.
Mr. William C. Linney stated that he was in favor of
the granting of the permit. He asked'if the children would
be apt to wander off the property, and Mr. Hayden said that
they would be supervised so that they would not wander away.
A woman who did not give her name asked Mr. Hayden
what he intended to do with the land adjoining Shade Street,
and he replied that he intended to have it cleaned up and
planted with trees. She asked where the recreation grounds
would be, and he replied that they would be all over the
place; there would be toboggan slides, skiing places, etc.
Mr. R. L. Ryder asked if this was to be in the nature
of a philanthropic enterprise, and if it was Mr. Hayden's
intention to ask for the abatement of all taxes as was done
in the case of all philanthropic enterprises, and Mr. Hayden
replied in the affirmative. Mr. Ryder asked if he would
ask for such abatement immediately, and he said not imme-
diately, but later on such abatement would be undoubtedly
requested, after he passed on.
Mr. Ryder aslmd Mr. Hayden 3f it was his intention to
have the enterprise endowed by himself or someone else
after his death. Mr. Hayden did not say definitely, but
said that he thought it would have to be endowed to carry
on, and Ryder agreed with him. Mr. Hayden then said that he
could not guarantee that the place would be endowed by
him, as nothing was certain, but he thought that eventually
the charity would be in a position to assume the maintenance
' charges for its own unit, sad probably the residence as
part of it.
To
Mr. Hayden said that he was tired: of looking at the
dump around there. When he first came to this location,
Miss Cary had a beautiful place, but it is not that way
now. He said that be was going to try to do his bit in
taking care of his place. Mr. Ryder said that he was
in entire sympathy with his idea, and said that he would
be very glad to co-operate with him in any way.
Mr. A. Ledoux, of Arlington, said that he was opposed
to the granting of the petition.
The Chairman said that a letter had been received
from Neil McIntosh approving the idea in general, and one
from Stephen Klyce opposing the petition. Mr. Klyce lives
in Kittery, Maine.
The hearing was declared closed at 8:35 P, M,
Mr. Lyons said that he might not be in town for the
next two or three weeks, and wished to go on record as
being in favor of the granting of Mr. Haydents petition,
subject to whatever conditions the Board might wish to
impose. The Chairman stated that Mr. Robbins wished to
be recorded in the sane way.
Mr, Lyons moved that the matter be laid on the table
until the next meeting. Mr, Glynn seconded the motion,
and it was so voted,
The records of the meeting held on April 30th were
approved.
A true record, Attes
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