HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-09-11 •
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.
HIST~C DISTRICTS CO~SSION ~ page 2 September 11, 1973
An ad3ourned hearing was held at 9s00 P.M. with Amelia G. Samoylenko,
Trustee of The Lexington Mews Treat, with respect to the erection and disw
play of a Directory Sign for the build3.ng at 10-12 Muzsey Street, which is
within the Hattie Green District. Mrs. Samoylenko submitted taro sets of
drawings of the proposed sign and said that the Board of Appeals has approved
this sign subject to approval from the Historic Districts Commission. The
sign location has been maned in 3` from the front property line. Tenants in
the basement, second floor, and rear will be listed on this sign. The sign
is to be double faced with incised letters of gold 1®af on dark stained wood
4" name panels with letters to be either 3" or 1 1/2" in height. The letters
will be centered in the name panels. The sign will not be lighted and there
will be shrubbery around the sign posts per a condition of the Board of App
peals. The hearing was closed at 9s 30 P.M.
Mr. Jaquith submitted a bill for August 1973 from Barbara Gilson, Clerk,
for $115.36 (postage of $.55, telephone of $.Si, and clerical services of
$114.00. It was nerved, seconded, and unanimously YOTED to approve payment
of this bill.
In accordance with an informs]. vote taken at the meet3,ng on August 1,
1973, it was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOT® to issue a Certificate
of Appropriateness to Vincent Fraumeni d/b/a Lexington Mews Cinema with re-
sped to the erection and display of a sign for the Cinema at 1012 Mus;zey
Street, which is within the Battle Green District. Participating in this
decision were Conaaissioners W31bur M. Jaquith, Philip B. Parsons, Georgia H.
Williams, and Associate Commissioners Royston T. Daley and Oliver F. Hooper.
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED to issue a Certificate
of Appropriateness to Amelia G. Samoylenko et ale, Trustees of the Lexington
Mews Trust, with respect to the erection and display of a directory sign for
the building at 10.12 A'tuzs:ey Street, which is within the Battle Green Disc-
trio. Participating in this decision were Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith,
Philip B. Parsons, Georgia H. Williams, and Associate Commissioners Royston
T. Daley and Oliver F. Hooper.
The meeting was ad3ourned at 1Os30 P.M.
Philip H. Parsons
Secretary