REPORT ON THE MEETING OF THE AMHERST HISTORICAL COMMISSION (7/22/20)
Strong House/Amherst History Museum (approx 1744), adjacent to the Jones Library. Photo: Art Keene
The meeting was conducted via Zoom webcast and was recorded.
Participating: Commission Members: Jane Wald (Chair), Jan Marquardt, Pat Auth, Jane Sheffler, Hetty Startup Staff: Nathan Malloy and Ben Breger
The Commission continued discussion of its role in determining the disposition of the Town’s Civil War tablets and crafting the revision of the Demolition Delay (Art. 13 of the Zoning Bylaw). They also voted unanimously that a shed at 330 Pine Street was not historically or architecturally significant enough to warrant preservation through requiring a demolition delay.
Civil War Tablets
The Civil War tablets, at one time available for the public to see in the lower level of Town Hall, have been stored at the Ruxton gravel pit since their restoration some years ago. The large marble tablets contain the names of Amherst residents who fought in the Civil War. There has been some public support lately to find the appropriate place to display them. Anika Lopes, representing a group working to that end, appeared before the Commission. The consensus was that the Commission would meet at the Ruxton storage facility to look at one of the tablets before deciding what action to take at their next meeting.
Demolition Delay Bylaw
Regarding revision of the Demolition Delay bylaw, members would like it done as a General Bylaw rather than a Zoning Bylaw since historic preservation is not a land use issue under M.G.L. Ch. 40A and only a majority vote of Town Council is required to enact it. The appeal process is also easier with general bylaws.
The Commission also recommended that the name and intent of the bylaw be changed to emphasize the positive preservation of historic buildings and sites focus of the bylaw. The Commission also felt that more public education is required as to the public benefits of historic preservation and that there is a need for engagement of the Town Council during the revision process. The fact that historic preservation is a driver, not an inhibitor, of economic development needs to be publicized. The Commission noted how many international tourists come here for the Emily Dickinson house and Jones Library Special Collections alone.
The Commission hopes to conclude discussion of these two topics at their meetings on August 12 and 26 along with resolution to the issue of “demolition by neglect” via a minimum maintenance bylaw.
It is good to see that our Historical Commission is continuing to work through these strange days!
I do have a question: When will the Historic Structures Report for the Jones Library be completed? The Amherst Historical Commission requested it urgently back in 2017.
After some contracting delays, it was to have been done over last summer. Then it was to have been completed by the end of calendar year 2019. I’ve heard nothing since the COVID-19 hit.
The Library Trustees are spending thousands of dollars these days, however, to modify the plans for the $49 million (including interest) proposed Jones Library demolition/expansion project. They are also spending for plans to renovate the Library within its present footprint, and to make it ADA accessible throughout.
Both types of planning would benefit from the detailed documentation of interior as well as exterior historic features that such a Report would provide. This is a gentle nudge for a due date that stays firm. So — by when?