Month: February 2023

February Decisions

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A quick run down of the votes and decisions this month, and what to look for at next month’s meeting –

Both 28 Grove Street and the carriage house at 91 Winchester Street were voted historically significant. Both are in fairly visible locations – take a stroll by and see the classical proportions and Craftsman aesthetic, in the natraul stone porch foundation, and the Tuscan columns, at 28 Grove Street. At 91 Winchester Street the carriage house was historically used as a carpentry shop, and the Form B – available here – describes the lively neighbhorhood adjacent to the old railroad station, of which this business was part. At our March meeting the Historical Commission will determine whether these properties are preferably preserved.

Next month the Historical Commission will also be determining historical significance for 3 properties at the corner of North Street and Boston Avenue – 236 Boston Avenue, 222 Boston Avenue/55 North Street, and 67 North Street, most recently Rudy’s Upholstery. The history of the American Woolen Company and the associated businesses that grew nearby in the early 20th century can be read in the area form (below) that our architectural historians wrote when the Commission surveyed the Hillside neighborhood of Medford.

The Historical Commission has declined to review demo permits for both 86 Suffolk Street and 230 Boston Avenue; at Suffolk Street, the renovations do not amount to demolition and at 230 Boston Avenue the building is not old enough to fall under the commission’s purview.

Area Form – American WoolenDownload

February Meeting Materials

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Enclosed in this post are the two Massachusetts Historical Commission inventory forms for buildings that will be discussed this evening.

28 Grove Street – MHC Form BDownload
91 Winchester Street – MHC Form BDownload

The Historical Commission uses this information in order to determine if a building is significant. There are many different ways a building can be significant. The reasons sometime include architectural importance, relationship to notable persons or events, or part of the broad patterns of history that define the neighborhood, city or Commonwealth. We encourage folks to write in if they have opinions on the matter in advance of the meeting.

Also in the news, tree work did in fact start today at Thomas Brooks Park! We are clearing scrub, dead, and invasive trees within 5′ of the wall in order to facilitate its restoration. The tree warden and city departments are aware this work is taking place. While doing a walk through, we noted a memorial mid-way in the park that is in the way of construction. We will be taking this down for safe keeping and will find a suitable place to return it to at the end of construction. If you are or know the person who put this up and would like to hold onto it, please reach out to us!

February Agenda

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Agenda for February, minutes for December are posted and available for your review now! Hope to see you all at what looks to be a pretty busy February meeting next Monday.

In other news and for those interested in improvements at Brooks Park on Grove Street – up next is the much needed restoration of both the fieldstone wall along Grove Street, and the restoration of Pomp’s Wall (the brick wall).

In anticipation of the masonry work, the areas in front and up to 5’ behind both walls will be cleared of all invasive plants, small/medium scrub trees and all dead trees/branches. This work has all been approved by the Medford Tree Warden and done in conjunction with the DPW, and the on-site contractor.

You may recall our archaeological dig last summer; that project is mostly completed with a final report due soon. We plan to host a community meeting to share the findings from the dig later this year – keep an eye out.