The Medford Transcript wrote a quick article on the current state of the Main St re-development and quoted Commissioner and Vice Chair, Jennifer Keenan.
The Monday Aug 20th “demo delay” meeting – for this building and buildings on Cotting St and Damon Rd – will be in the Community Room at the South Medford Fire Station, at Main and Medford Streets, 7 PM-9 PM.
Medford’s community read this year – Caleb’s Crossing, by Geraldine Brooks – is “inspired by a true story” from colonial New England history. Medford Public Library is hosting a discussion of the novel, and its “history, themes, relationships and impact” on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 7 PM. The discussion will be lead by Library Director Barbara Kerr, more info here.
The novel is “set in Massachusetts in the 1660s” and “tells the tale of Bethia Mayfield, a restless and curious young woman growing up amid a small band of English Puritans. At age twelve, she meets Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret bond that draws each into the alien world of the other…”
There’s still lots of 2018 left, so even if you haven’t read the novel yet, you can stop by and learn more.
77 Cotting St,
137 Damon Rd and
368-374 Main St
have all been found historically significant. This means that a public meeting will be held on Monday, Aug 20 7 PM in the Community Room at the South Medford Fire Station, at Main and Medford Sts [was City Hall] to determine whether these historically significant buildings are also preferably preserved. After public discussion, if they are determined to be preferably preserved, a demolition delay of 18 months may be imposed. The demo delay can be lifted if the community and owner/developer can create a plan that preserves the historic character of the neighborhood.
Thanks to summer schedules, our August meeting to determine the historical significance of three interesting properties – 77 Cotting St, 137 Damon Rd and the “Bocelli’s” commercial building at 368, 370 and 372 Main St – will be Tuesday, July 31 7 PM in room 201 of Medford City Hall. A little more on the process, here.
Although the image above was basically just swiped off the internet, it does show the art deco lettering of the old DePasquale’s facade, just barely peeking out from under the Bocelli’s sign.
And the photo left shows the little art deco antelope on the facade, a symbol of agriculture and abundance.
More information about the individual properties can be found below as follows:
77 Cotting Street:
77 Cotting Street Demolition Application
77 Cotting Street Site Plan Scan
77 Cotting Street MHC Form B
137 Damon Road:
137 Damon Road MHC Form B
137 Damon Road Demolition Application
368-374 Main Street:
Main Street MHC Form B
368-374 MainStreet Demolition Application
368-374 Main Street Owner Approval Letter
374 Main Street New Building Plans
The Historical Commission received applications for demolition permits on houses at 137 Damon Road and 77 Cotting Street.
At the August meeting [now scheduled for Tues July 31 7 PM], the commission will determine the historical significance of these houses. If the houses are found historically significant, there will then be a public meeting in September where a demolition delay may be imposed. At this public meeting, neighbors will get the chance to meet with the owner and discuss their concerns about the property.
The Historical Commission also received an application for demolition for the commercial buildings at 368, 370, 372 and 374 Main Street. That building is home to Bocelli’s restaurant, previously DePasquale Bros., and supposedly the first restaurant in the region, outside of Boston’s North End, to serve pizza! The building now also houses the Backstreet Salon and Jason Anthony Formal Wear.
The process is the same for commercial buildings.
Although no new applications for demolition were accepted at the June meeting of the Medford Historical Commission, we anticipate demolition applications for properties in the Hillside neighborhood in the near future.
This summer, our local historian, Dee Morris will offer a walking tour to introduce you to Medford’s famous Hallowell family; brothers Norwood and Edward Hallowell were Civil War officers and their families enjoyed the good life, 19th century style, on lower Mystic Street. The first of these walking tours is Saturday, June 16, at 10 AM. More info here.
And, if you’d like to learn how to research your own family history, the Medford Public Library is hosting a weekly series of workshops, starting this Thursday, June 7, at 7 PM. More details via the library’s Events page, or on this flyer.
Interested in walking tours, apps and new media, oral history, public art, community organizing or supporting public history in its many forms and guises? Join like-minded folks at the Mass History Conference; this year, the focus will be on People’s History/Local History. Hosted by the Massachusetts History Alliance, in Worchester, June 4.
Commissioner Ryan D. Hayward, past Chair, who patiently and thoughtfully led the Commission for many years,
I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to work in the fields of history and architecture. I was introduced to the topics in the fifth grade while attending Medford Public Schools. I later pursued these academically, graduating from the Boston Architectural College with a degree in Historic Preservation. My professional career began at the Medford Historical Society, Brooks Estate and Royall House and I joined the Commission in 2007 in order to give back to our community. When not preserving our local heritage, I’m out collaborating with homeowners as a self-employed preservation and design consultant. I’ve had he opportunity to work on buildings old and new. It’s rewarding seeing the joy of owners at the end of their renovations. I myself am restoring an 1895 Queen Anne Victorian which has been in our family for 70 years. As I have lived and worked in Medford all my life and know about the past, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our community. Working with the Commission, we will ensure preservation is part of the ongoing change happening every day.
Photo courtesy of the owner.
Hayward House c. 1947
Many nearby communities use design review to help their neighborhoods benefit from new development (and Medford’s getting plenty of that). If you want to learn more about how to embrace change AND enhance neighborhood character, you are invited to Historic New England’s next workshop. The June workshop, part of a series of “Preservation Strategies that Work,” will focus on Design Review Concepts, Cases and Issues. At the Barnstable Town Hall, June 1.
Your Medford Historical Commission plans to send a member, and if you’d like to join us, drop us a line and tell us why!! Guest will be selected at random.
More details here, but you have to scroll through.
Medford Historical Commission 
