HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-12-09 December 9, 1953
The Historic Districts Commissions held c series of ,public hearings on Tuesday everting,
December ?, 1953, in the Selectmen's Room, starting at 7:30 p.m. Sitting on the
Commission were: Charles G. Davis, Chairman, Philip B. Parsons, Dexter A. Smith,
Edewin B. Worthen, Jr., and Floyd J. Taylor, Secretary.
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D4eNEIL . Mr. John MacNeil, representing the MacNeil Insurance Agency, was the
first petitioner heard, on his request for permission to erect a second sign on his building
at 19 Depot Square. He wanted it so placed that people from the Massachusetts Avenue
side of the building could see it. Town regulations permit no more than one exterior
sign, unless the secondary sign faces a street or parking area and is not more than 50 per
cent The width of the Sign on the stare front. In view of the fart that the "alley" next
to the MacNeil building has, Dust this ,cast week, been given the name of Depot Place,
there was some question as to which is the "front" of the building and 'which is "Side. "
Mr. MacNeil, in answer to questions from the Commissioners, stated that the proposed
sign would be mounted on a board, as is the principai sign; that the same type lettering
would be used, but the letters would be painted directly onto to the wood and not on
metal and mounted. The hearing ended at 7:55 p.m.
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VOTED: The Commission voted unanimously to issu a certificat at' appropriateness to
John F. MacNeil for the erection of a sign reading�lnsurance at 19 Depot Square,
such sign to be approximately 1d" high. Tlhs certificate is to be issued on the .provision
that the applicant comply with all Town regulations, including the Sign By-Law+.
ADORN SALON. An adjourned hearing on the request of the Adorn Salon to erect a
sign "Adorn Salon" on the {Mass. Avenue side of their :.carters at 15 Depot Square,
was heid at 3:10 p.m. Messrs. John Dencro and Stephen Piazza represented the Salon,
The original hearing was called for December 2, but no representatives appeared on that
date. No sketch was submitted, but the proposed sign, both gentlemen allowed, would
be for identification purposes only and should be similar to those of the Minute Man Pub-
lications and the [MacNeil Insurance Company. The hearing ad'ourned at 3:25 p.m..
VOTED: The Commission voted unanimously to permit the Adorn Salon to erect and dis-
play a sign at 15 Depot Square, to read simply ".adorn Salon." It shall be of the same
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eight asthe siign reading "Insurance" at 19 Depot Square, and the lettering shall be of
the same type and general dimensions as those on the "Insurance" sign. Since no sketch
was submitted, the further provision was incorporated into the certificate that a scale
drawing of the sign must be submitted to a member of the Commission before the sign is
painted.
GLADYS M. MOORE. Mr. Mark Moore represented his wife in the matter of certain
— features of the sign and lighting at 1851 Massachusetts ,'-`,venue which were not in com-
pliance with the certificate of appropriateness voted at the Commission's meeting on
November 12. This hearing began at 9 p.m. Specificaily it was pointed out by the
Commission:
i . The certificate called for a wood sign, and a metal one has been erected.
2. Biack letters were approved; they have been outlined in white.
3. The design of the lights was to have been submitted for approval; it was not
submitted.
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Page 2 DecemberA-O',, 1958
Mr. Moore stated that the sign painter substituted the metal without consulting
him, that he (the sign painter) didn't know that the Historic Districts' regulations were
involved, and he thought he was doing Mr. Moore a favor by doing a "better" sign in
metal . The lighting of McLeod's sign was not covered in the certificate, but the
light is there--apparently to no one's disadvantage. Mr. Moore left the hearing room
at 9:25 p.m. (See paragraph below)
VOTE: The Commission voted unanimously to issue an amendment to the Certificate of
Appropriateness previously issued to Gladys M. Moore, dated November 13, 1958,
granting approval of a metal sign with black letters outlined in white. It further directs
that within 30 days the background paint be extended to the top of the existing wood
cornice (to correspond with that of Ernest Giroux's storefront at 1835 Massachusetts
Avenue), as agreed to by the applicant, Mark Moore. Mr. Worthen to sign amended certificate.
HANCOCK CHURCH. At 9:45 p.m. the Chairman of the Commission directed the
Secretary to read in full the recent court decision in respect of the Hancock Church
appeal, which remanded the appeal to the Historic Districts Commission. Mr. Taylor
read the document to the Commission, which consisted of: Charles G. Davis, chairman,
Philip B. Parsons, Dexter A. Smith, and Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. A full discussion fol-
lowed the reading of this decision. The next step, if appeal is made, is to the Supreme
Judicial Court, in which case new briefs would be filed by each party concerned.
VOTE: It was moved by Mr. Mr. Smith, seconded, and unanimously voted that the case
be appealed, and that the Town Counsel be directed to appeal the judgment of the Court
in the case of the Hancock Congregational Church vs. Charles G. Davis, et al.
A letter to Town Counsel, Harold Stevens, was then dictated to the clerk protem by the
chairman of the Commission.
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY . In view of criticism of the front entrance to the remodeled
library on the part of several citizens, the secretary of the Commission was requested to
bring the original plans to the next meeting of the Commission in order that determination
could be made as to how the original proposals were put into effect.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10.15 p.m.
Muriel S. Williams
Clerk protem
December 10, 1956
- Note: The discussion with Mr. Moore led to the suggestion by one member of the Com-
mission that future certificates should be issued with the stipulation that no specifications
may be changed without the approval of the Commission.