Sweetser House must go, but where?
Published on June 30th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham has a chance to save the Sweetser House at 434 Main St. — "the finest remaining Greek Revival home in town," according to Historical Commission President Bee Russo. But townspeople and local officials have to act fast.
"Work must continue on the site by the end of the summer," said contractor Joe Cunning-ham, a Stoneham resident and owner of Cunningham Remodeling and Construction.
Cunningham, who is developing the property for the Bloomberg family, came to the town to ask what if anything the town wanted to do with the home, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
"This is a unique opportunity," Russo said. "Usually we just find out a building was torn down."
At the June 29 selectmen's meeting Town Administrator Jeff Nutting characterized the town's position as an "act now or forever hold your peace" situation.
The Bloomberg family owns the Main Street property across the street from the Public Library which includes Love's Furniture, the Sweetser House and the old, vacant Maynard Moore Shoe Factory.
The Sweetser home was built in 1848 by Warren Sweetser, onetime Stoneham grocer, shoe maker and postmaster. The last family to live in the home left in 1966 after Mary Koprek sold the house to the Leather Fashioners and Craftsmen Company, who later sold out to Charles Moore, who sold to the Bloombergs in 1998.
The Bloomberg family has hired Cunningham and given him authority to give the home to the town.
"I have made a commitment to help the town, but this cannot drag on forever," Cunningham said; he was hired to do a job, to rehabilitate the shoe factory building and surrounding grounds. The site of the Sweetser House is necessary for parking in Cunningham's plans.
Russo and the Historical Commission have been meeting with Cunningham and Stoneham Community Development Director Steve Sadwick to figure out how and where to move the house.
"We first met about four months ago," Cunningham said.
The town and the contractor have been trying to figure out a feasible plan to save the historic home.
The town is receiving the property as a "gift." Ideally grants and donations would take care of relocation and renovation. In this scenario the town would have to vote at Town Meeting to accept the gift, according to former Town Clerk and Historical Society member Annamae Arsenault.
But the actual circumstances are not ideal.
"We are looking further into grants from the state," Sadwick said.
Conversations with the Massachusetts Historical Society about renovation grants have left Sadwick "optimistic," but he qualifies this optimism: "Moving the home is going to pose a problem."
Russo said the move could cost from $30,000 to $50,000 depending on where the home is taken.
"We would probably have to ask Town Meeting for $30,000 to $50,000," Nutting said.
Price will vary with the distance of the move, Russo explained; the commission has obtained estimates.
In a separate interview Cunningham suggested the town use the parking lot of the library across the street as the temporary home for the house.
"This would be a one-day job, across the street," Cunningham said.
Nutting suggested the grassy area on Main Street across from the Post Office.
Other possible permanent sites discussed include private land on Main Street, MDC land at Straw Point and a parcel on the Boston Regional Medical Center campus.
On Tuesday night Selectmen Chairman Al Conti wanted to know about total costs.
"I think the eventual project in total could run around $500,000," Cunningham said in an interview earlier this week.
Russo told selectmen that real estate appraisers have commented to her on the sturdiness of the building.
"The frame is 80 percent chestnut, which is rare," she said.
The Historical Commission is asking for the generosity of private citizens, who may have funds to aid in relocation or a home for the Sweetser House on their property.
"We have spent a lot of time on site analysis, but we haven't had a lot of community response," Sadwick said. "Probably because this is something new."
Russo wants people to know that the home can act as a living link to the past.
She talks of the carpentry and woodworking design of the home which were crafted by men born in the 1700s.
"A home like this in Shrewsbury was renovated and is now used as a training center for carpenters," Russo said.
Russo said the home could be used as a museum, an art gallery, town offices or an instructional facility for tradesmen and historians.
The town and Historical Commission are open to any help they can get in relocating the home.
"Sooner rather than later" would be best, added Sadwick.
Nutting said the town should be at Town Meeting by August ready to act, if the house is to be saved. He said this timetable may necessitate a move to a temporary location if the town wants to go forward with the relocation.
Selectmen decided to tour the home before their next meeting on July 13, get further input from the Historical Commission and Sadwick, and proceed summarily.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!