This month will be a busy meeting of the Medford Historical Commission. Please join us at 7PM via Zoom on Monday, October 16 to participate. We have a number of items on the agenda which can be found by clicking here.
56 Wareham Street Receive Demolition Application:
The Commission will receive an application for the demolition of 56 Wareham Street. The building is a 19th century structure and maintains a lot of its character. You can read the MHC Form B prepared by consultant John Clemson for more on the history and architecture. The Commission uses these inventory forms during its deliberations on if a structure is significant and preferably preserved.
67-69 Court Street House and Carriage House Determination of Significance:
The Commission will determine the significance of the house and carriage house located at 67-69 Court Street. The house dates to the mid-nineteenth century and is representative of those houses built for the working class residents. It has had a large addition placed to the rear and is now a two family structure. The carriage house remains. Its age is not known but it shows up on maps in the late nineteenth century. We will review the buildings for their historical and architectural history. If found significant, a public hearing would be required.
587 Winthrop StreetDetermination of Significance::
Slated to be altered beyond recognition, the residential building here will be reviewed for significance. This is one of the few 19th century buildings remaining in the northwest corner of Medford. Many in this area have recently been demolished for development. This structure is being gutted and the rear ell replaced with a large addition.
The Commission will review an application for the demolition of 64 Myrtle Street. The building was gutted with permission. The owner intends to rebuild the structure rather than work within the confines of old construction. The Commission is required to review the demolition the same as any other structure. We will determine if this structure warrants further review by determining if it is significant.
We would like to remind everyone that our program with PAL is coming up soon. Please see the flyer for more information.
The Commission will provide a series of updates before approving minutes. Once minutes are approved, we’ll be done for this month! Please feel free to check back for an update as to how the meeting went.
Almost done! The contractor for the field stone wall finished their work at the beginning of June. For the first time in perhaps a half-century, Thomas Brooks Park has a complete wall from end to end. There were some important discoveries which we wish to share with you! First, some photos of the work:
The wall at the southern end of the park is characteristically different than the stones beyond Pomp’s wall. These seem almost architectural and have been dressed square. They could be pieces of the Edward Brooks House. The mansion stood opposite the park until the early 20th century and was demolished to make way for the current neighborhood. The discovery of granite border blocks suggests these might be pieces of the former stone arched bridge over the Middlesex Canal. This structure was designed by George Rumford Baldwin, a son of Loammi Baldwin of Woburn. Father Baldwin designed the canal in 1790 and it cut through the Brooks Estates on its way from Somerville to Winchester. The bridge cost $1,000 and was made from Chelmsford Granite. It survived until the early 20th century and was once a planned focal piece for the residential development. That plan fell through and the structure was demolished. It was long believed that pieces made their way into adjacent foundations or were buried but the presence of a small arched capstone (now in the Brooks Park Wall) suggests these blocks are pieces of that bridge.
Pompeii’s Wall restoration is moving into its final phase. The cap flashing and stones are being installed to bring the project to a conclusion. The repairs are done in a manner that will allow the wall to be water tight and safe for the next century.
The contractor was kind enough to share with us that some of the bricks maintain the marks of their maker. We’re not sure if these are Pompeii’s hand prints but we can be sure the bricks are hand made and that a human crafted them for inclusion in the wall. Neat stuff!
Now for a word of warning. It has come to our attention that someone is dismantling the north end of the wall by Saltonstall Road. The contractor will return to repair this area of damage and he noted this is a deliberate act of destruction. The Commission was notified shortly after it happened (over the weekend) and we will monitor the site as this is destruction of a historic resource. This is the location of a desire path, and it is not a safe location for crossing Grove Street (no sight lines for pedestrians or autos). The wall blocks the end of the park for this reason and visitors should cross down at the entrance opposite Laird Road, a short distance to the south. We will be marking the new entrances and working with the City to make sure there are cross walks, curb cuts, and signage in the future to make crossing Grove Street easier.
Thank you to the Medford Community Preservation Commission for making this project happen. It helps move the Brooks Park Master Plan further along. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we look toward the next project.
We have a rather light meeting so we will be providing some updates on projects. The major one is work at Thomas Brooks Park is about 95% complete. The field stone wall has been entirely restored. Pomp’s wall is almost there and is missing a few stones to finish the top cap. That will be finished by next week. We will post finished photos when complete!
Have you seen all the amazing work happening at Thomas Brooks Park on Grove Street? If you have not been down this historic street in a while, drive by as you’re in for a treat! Progress is moving right along with the restoration of Pomp’s Wall and the Fieldstone Wall. Here is a quick summary of what has happened in the last two weeks.
Pomp’s Wall:
The lower portion of Pomp’s wall has been restored. The wall is laid in Flemish Bond, a decorative brick pattern that can now be seen clearly. Much of the wall is original 18th century brick and the mason is doing everything he can to preserve the hand made features. The far end, which was ready to topple over, is on its way to being reconstructed. The bricks were stored to document their exact location so the wall will be rebuilt exactly as it was.
Fieldstone Wall Restoration:
The contractors are moving right along with the rebuilding of the granite wall that borders the remainder of the park. We are pleased with the progress to date. They have laid more than one hundred feet of stonework in the past week and that is impressive.
We have received several calls and emails pertaining to access openings in the park. Rest assured that there will be plenty of access points along the length of Grove Street. These have been strategically mapped out with assistance from our landscape architect, the Department of Public Works, City Engineering/Traffic Department and the on-site contractor. Some entrance points are being moved to ensure the safest crossing area and site lines for pedestrians when crossing the street. If your favorite access point has been closed off, it is very likely that there will be a new opening created close by!
Do look for the openings, such as this one opposite Laird Road. We will mark them with signage and crosswalks in the next phase of work. We look forward to your ongoing support for the restoration efforts in Thomas Brooks Park! If you are interested in being on our email list, please do not hesitate to send us an email to sign up at historicalcommission@medford-ma.gov.
The April meeting is going to be busy with a hearing and three determinations of significance. The Commission will then conclude with ongoing business. Be sure to check out our agenda that comes out on the Wednesday before the meeting.
222 Boston Avenue Public Hearing
222 Boston Avenue, formerly 55 North Street. The building is being proposed for demolition.
Last month, the Historical Commission determined the building at 222 Boston Avenue historically significant. The multi-story factory building was constructed for the G.L. Erving Company. This business specifically catered to the larger American Woolen Company complex next door at 200 Boston Avenue. The entire American Woolen Company complex is an important reminder of our industrial history. There were only a handful of large mills, the type you might see in Lawrence or Lowell, and they were constructed along the adjacent rail corridor.
You can read all about the complex in the Massachusetts Historical Commission Area Form from Medford and there’s a bit more context about the site in the form for Somerville.
The Commission has received three applications this month for the demolition, in whole or in part, at the following locations:
12 George Street
The Benjamin and Effie L. Richmond House on George Street is among the first development carried out around the Royall House. The property is slated to be altered beyond recognition and the Commission is reviewing the building for significance. An MHC inventory form was prepared for the property and is included for review.
Prominently located on a lot along Green Road, the Dr. Charles M. and Helen L. Green House is being proposed for substantial renovation that will alter the building. It is an excellent example of shingle style architecture and relates to the early development of Medford Square. The first commuter class homes were constructed just behind the line of houses fronting the main arteries. In this case, the Green House is located just up the street from High Street. It is not difficult to imagine why its owners placed it here. The quiet neighborhood is a world away from the bustle of the busy commercial and municipal heart of Medford. You can read more about the building in the MHC inventory form below.
Last but not least is the Randall – Bailey House. This building is slated to be renovated beyond recognition. It is a nineteenth century end house that is typical of the time period. You can read more about it’s owners and the architecture below.
The Commission will determine significance at the next meeting. We do not take public comments at the meeting as there is a public hearing process if the building is significant. If you would like to submit comments in writing, we are happy to enter those into the record as part of our deliberations. Please do not hesitate to send us an email.
At the end of these demolition delay items, the Commission will carry on with it’s normal business. Be sure to check out our blog posts for more information about the happenings around Medford. We have work happening on Thomas Brooks Park, and the survey of historic properties is ongoing.
The Medford Historical Commission recently was contacted by Vernon Chandler who wanted to share a bit of Medford history with the residents of Medford. He wrote a wonderful little blog post which we are sharing with our audience to raise awareness of our rich and diverse heritage.
Remembering Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller of Medford
My name is Vernon E. Chandler Ill of 34 Prospect St. in Hamilton, MA. My dad (Vernon E. Chandler Jr) and my mom (Joan E. (Gosse) Chandler) were long-time Medford, MA residents, as were their parents Vernon E. Chandler Sr. and Marjorie E. (Morton) Chandler and Charles W. Gosse and Alice (Colby) Gosse. I was born in Medford, MA and lived there with my family until 1957. We then moved to Reading, MA where we lived until I got married in 1977. I then moved to Hamilton, MA where I still live today.
I contacted the Historical Commission because my son (Brian Chandler) and I have been researching my second cousin, Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller of Medford, MA who was killed in Germany in WWII on October 18, 1944. He was the son of John B. Miller and Annie G. Miller (Alice Gosse’s sister) who lived at 19 Liberty Ave. in Medford, MA. We uncovered so much historical information on Kenneth and his unit, the 743rd Tank Battalion and with a lot of research we were able to locate the place the tank-on-tank battle occurred which took his life in Wurselen, Germany. He was only 19 years old. His remains were never recovered and returned home despite the best efforts of his mom, Annie Miller. We are continuing her search through the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. This agency has classified the search for Kenneth’s remains as an “Active Pursuit”.
Left to right, my mom (Joan E. Gosse), William Miller, Paul Miller, and Kenneth E. Miller.
My son and I have been so deeply moved by Kenneth’s and his mom Annie’s WWII story, as well as the stories of all who served in World War II, that we planned and took a two-week World War II, 1800-mile driving tour of Europe this past September. Our tour included visits to 6 ABMC cemeteries and many historic WWII sites from Paris, France to Normandy, France to Belgium to The Netherlands to Luxembourg to Germany and finally to Austria. It was an unbelievable experience. We have many pictures and stories we’d like to share with the citizens of Medford, MA. This includes a visit to Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller’s memorial on the Wall of the Missing in Margraten, The Netherlands and, with our German guide, a visit to the actual open corn field location in Wurselen, Germany where the tank-on-tank battle took place and Kenneth’s tank was destroyed and he was killed.
Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller’s name on the Wall of the Missing in Margraten, The Netherlands along with flowers, flags, and his picture all brought by his Dutch adopter and a message we brought to him from all current and former residents of Medford, MA
At Margraten, we met the Dutch adopter of Kenneth’s name on the Wall of the Missing. Yes, Dutch adopter! Most Americans do not know that every grave and every memorial at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten has been adopted and cared for by a Dutch citizen since 1945. They truly appreciate and remember the sacrifices made by their “liberator soldiers” for their freedom. Freedom that they once lost and was then given back to them by American soldiers, kids. To this day they do not forget! They regularly visit and place flowers at the graves/memorials. They even undertook a program called “The Faces of Margraten” where the worked to put a face with every grave and every name on the Wall of the Missing. They even published a book by the same name. Check out the Netherlands American Cemetery online at: https://www.abmc.gov/Netherlands and the Adoption Program on line at: https://www.adoptiegraven–margraten.nl. Click on the flag ofthe USA in the upper right ofthe home page to see the English version of the adoption site.
Myself after signing a flag in a Belgian Museum being built to honor the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division and the attached 743rd Tank Battalion who liberated the town the museum is being built in. I was asked to sign the flag in honor of Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller and I was honored to do so on behalf of the Miller family.
With all of this in mind, I am looking forward to making a multimedia presentation to the Medford Historical Commission, Veterans Association, and interested citizens of Medford, MA to share these experiences with as many as possible and to possibly reach whomever from the Miller family may still live in or near Medford, MA. We believe our once in a lifetime experiences are only meaningful if we share them with others. I am working now to prepare this multimedia presentation to include pictures and video. I plan to make similar presentations in Reading, MA and my current hometown Hamilton, MA in the April timeframe.
Most especially, we want to make sure the words on the sign we put at the Wall of the Missing in Margraten are true, namely: “The people of Medford, MA USA … Know You Are Here!! …
Remember Your Sacrifice!! … And Eternally Thank You!!”
Be sure to be on the lookout for information regarding this presentation very soon!
If you drive down Grove Street, you may have noticed that work is underway at Thomas Brooks Park. There are two separate projects that are being completed by two different preservation professionals. Work is entirely funded by the City of Medford’s Community Preservation Committee and we thank them for their support.
Pomp’s Wall Restoration:
Masonry expert Richard McGrath of Lunenburg recently removed the capstones of the eighteenth century brick wall. This is the first step for conservation work. It revealed what we expected – extensive deterioration to the inside of the wall structure that must be repaired. This element is of special importance to Medford. It is one of two extant reminders of slavery. The bricks were assembled by Pompeii, a slave owned by Thomas Brooks. Pompeii and several other African Americans lived on the land that is now Thomas Brooks Park. The site was a gift to the City from the Brooks family with the stipulation that we forever care for wall then known as “The Old Slave Wall.”
Field Stone Wall Restoration:
Mark Neves of M. Neves, Inc. is responsible for the restoration of the granite field stone wall along the remainder of Grove Street. The wall was constructed in two different phases. The northern end is an eighteenth century feature, while the southern end is nineteenth century. The wall will be repaired to its historic height, and new openings placed at regular intervals opposite intersections. The intent is to make the park safer by directing users to locations where crosswalks would be found (for example, at street intersections). To facilitate work, a team of tree care specialists came through to remove dead or invasive vegetation within five feet of the backside of the wall. This has exposed many of the historic trees, that will remain. By removing some of the invasive, it will encourage the existing mature trees to grow. We are the stewards of these century old landmarks and we want nothing more than for them to thrive.
Work will continue over the next several months so stay tuned for additional updates!
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!
The Medford Historical Commission will host a public meeting on Monday, November 14, 2022. The agenda is enclosed for those who want to follow along. The meeting is via Zoom, or it is sometimes broadcast on Medford Community Media. A recording is also available a day or two following so you can watch this and past meetings in the archive hosted on their website.
There are two buildings which will be reviewed for significance. The first is 31 South Street, a nineteenth century residential duplex that is slated to be altered beyond recognition. The second is 180 Lincoln Road which will be totally demolished and new building replacing the existing at a later time. The Commission will use the enclosed inventory forms to base their opinions.
The remainder of the meeting will be dedicated to project updates. As always, we welcome community participation. If you have any questions, please email us anytime!
Medford Historical Commission 