HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-02-19 l •
HISTORIC DISTRICTS C~ff38I0N
A meeting of the Historic Distriota Commission was held on Wednesday,
February 19, 1975, in Room ili, Taws OPtioe Huildi,ng, Lexington at 8:tft) P.M.
Present Were Commissioners Wilbur Pi. Jaquith, Chairman; Georgia H. Williams,
Seoratargi Thomas J. Hol$bog~ and Associate Comndssionera Ruth B. Adams,
Oliver F. Hooper, Sarah P. Harkness, and Amelia G. 3amoyianko. Mrs. Adams
xas appointed to serve Por Commissioner Holsbvg who xas lets arriving. Mr.
Hooper Was appointed to serve for Commissioner Donald J, Shaw xho was un-
able to be present. Mrs. 3amoglenko was appointed to serve for Commisaiors~r
S. Lawrence Whipple who was unable to be present.
It xaa moved, seconded, and ananimansly VOTE to issue a Certificate of
Appropriateness to The Lexington Center Realtq Trust with xeapect to changes
in the exterior arahitsatural features of the buildings at 1752 an3 i'~2
Massachusetts Avenue, which are within the &ttla Green Dlatrict, Partici-
pating in this deaiaion were Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith and Georgia H.
Williams# and Associate Coesdiasionara Ruth B. Adams, Oliver F. Hooper, and
Amalie G. Samoylenko,
It Was moved, aecanded, and unanimonslq VOTSD to issue a Certifiaats of
Appropriateness to the Lexington Historical Society and the Lexington Bicen-
tennial Comndlttee with respect to the erection and display of historical
markers an or in the immediate viainitq of the premi.sea set forth in Sahed-
u].e A attaahsd hereto as a part of this Certificate, cash of said premises
being located in one of the mottle Green, Hammock-Clarke, Monroe Tavern, or
$ast Village Historic Diatriats as indicated in said Schedule A. Partici-
pating in this decision xere Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith and Georgia H.
W31liamss and Asaoaiats Commissioners Ruth B. Adams, Oliver F. Hooper, ord.
Amelia G. 9amoylenko.
Then folloxed conai~lerable discussion on the Hamsook-Clarke Hoaae. Mr,
Hooper suggested sorbing be installed at the sidewalk and grading up to the
House from there, Mrs. Harkness agreed that this would be a possible solu-
tion to the foundation height problem of the Hours sa currently situated.
Mr. Jaquith asked what kind of curbing and both Mr. Hooper and Mara. Harkness
said. that it would have to be granite sorbing or a retaining wa11. Mr.
Holabog said that the Commission should approve curbing ar a retaining wall.
' xhiahever is suggested by 1~, Sasaki, landscape architect, xho is nary con-
sulting on this pra,ject. Mrs. Harkreas said that after such grading has
been done that plantings Would hide the balance of the fonxdation of the
House. Mr, Jaquith said that he felt that something xould have to be done
~ about grading ap to the House and that he feels the Historical Society mia-
represented the situation in the drawings aubesitted to the Commission which
' were used for the iasna~e of a Csrtifiaats in November 197+. Mr. Hal$bog
suggested that red brink be used for the walkways and Mr. Ja~Qnith said that
ha xould not approve blacktop or concrete xalks. Mr. Halsbog said that he
had talked with Charles Cole about wedging the clapboards an3 about tie rode
inside to draw the separation of the addition from the main house beak to-
gether. He said that Mr. Cole had told him that minor changes in the addi-
tion might be made but that theq Want to follow the authenticity of the
painting, Mr, Halsbog suggested the addition be clapboarded With muntined
windawa to match the Hours. Mrs. Harkness said that she feels that this
xould be mush better than what the Historical Society prapoaea to do. She
said that she feels the addition ahaald be kept as simple as possible.
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COM!!?SSION - page 2 F®bruary 19~ 1975
Mr, Jaquith said that a lot of thought xaa pat into the addition starting in
the anmmar of 19?~+ and that the 3ooiety had decided to try to dupliaats the
painting, He said that the Commission approved this cottospt and to oha»ge
this nox xould require another hearing. Mr, Jaquith said that he feels twat
the artist might have taken soma artistic liberties xith the painting, Mr,
Holsbog said that the addition as designed might be all right or it might be
a disaster as it is a very complex addition that is a rather confusing after-
thought to the House and he feels that the Commission oan suggest ohanges in
the addition, Mrs, Harkness said that xe knox that the Hous® is authentio
but that xe don't really knox that the painting is authentic and that we
should emphasise the original old Honae, Mr, Jaquith said that changes in
the proposed addition might be difficult to "sell" to the Society, Mrs.
Harkness said that she feels these fussy details of the addition follax a
painting xhich may not be authentic. She said that she would prefer a
straight roofs use of one materials preferably clapboardsz matching the xin-
drnta of the House and lining them up xith those of the House xhere possible
and omission of the Pales door at the errs. Mr, Holzbog said that the Commis-
sion could. argue that these two sheds were after-thoughts and therefore could
be changed. He said that he xas trying to present another alternative.
Mrs, Harkness said that the Commission xas not suggesting aray ohanges inside
the addition but only on the exterior and that the changes suggested xould
imprave the appearance. Mr, Jaquith said that the members must remember
that the Society ranted to reproduce the painting in adding a reception area
and that the Commission had decided that the proposal xaa appropriate, Mrs,
Harkness said that the Commission could ask for the same material all around,
keep the lines the same. and ask for simplification of materials and plans.
Mr. Ja.gvith said that produoing something radically different is adding an-
other problem. Mrs, WiLtianm said drat she thought the simplification sug-
gestions might be aaaeptable, Mrs. Harkness said that the board and batten
is not arohiteeturally bad. Mrs, Samoylenko said that real barn siding xould
be nice. Mr, Holzbog said that vertical strip siding or horinontal olap-
boarda on all sides of the addition xould be aoceptsble, Then follaMed s
discussion on the diamond paned xirdows and the aonsensvs of the members xaa
that they xsre not appropriate, The fake double door was then discussed,
Mrs. Harkness said that she objects to a fake door but that she xould not
ob~eat if real doors xere installed, Mr, Holabog said that this xould mske
for too many doors on that elevation, Mr, Jaquith suggested that, if the
double door xas used as the entrance, people might be able to move through
easier, Mr, Holabog suggested that one of the doors bs eli~.nated and the
majority of the members agreed that orte door should be eliminated, Thsa__
Then folloxed a dissuasion on the use of one type of material for the siding
std the majority of the ~mbera agreed that only one material should be used.
It xas asked if the vent in the attic could be eliminated and Mr, Jaquith
acid that the 3oeiety had been told that the Comsd.asion xould not approve the
meat. Then folloxed discussion on the save detail and further dissuasion on
the siding.
The meeting was adjourtred at 11:20 P.M.
Georgia H. Willisias
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