Fayville Village Hall sometime in the 20’s. Note the iron fountain out front, which the Society hopes to replicate.
The Southborough Historical Society, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has reached a tentative agreement to acquire the former Fayville Village Hall for its new home.
The potential purchase was made possible through a combination of fundraising, sale of targeted assets, and the generosity of the current owner, Mr. Jon Delli Priscoli.
The exterior of the 1914 building will be restored to its previous Classical Revival glory. Inside, current plans include mixed gallery/commercial-event/concert space on the first floor, with offices and archival storage on the second. A fully finished basement will provide additional artifact storage, as well a small catering kitchen to service events. And, once renovations are complete, the Society will place a preservation restriction on the property—which currently has no demolition protection—to make sure this remarkable edifice remains standing for future generations to enjoy.
“This will be the beginning of a whole new era for us,” explained Michael Weishan, SHS President. “The town-owned Flagg School building has always been an awkward fit for the Society, and we have long since outgrown its capacities. Further, an architectural assessment report we commissioned in 2021 revealed that the Flagg building is in need of a quarter-million dollars in urgent repairs. Rather than put money into a building we don’t own, we began looking at other options last year, and Jon was kind enough to work with us to make this happen.
“The Fayville Village Hall, which is three times the size of our current building, will allow us to create an entirely new local and regional history teaching center for adults as well as our school children, and equally importantly, will provide income-generating opportunities that will guarantee the financial viability of the Society into future decades.
“We are also hugely pleased to demonstrate our dedication to preserving historic buildings outside of the Main Street Corridor, in acknowledgement that our town of Southborough was, and is, comprised of four distinct villages, all equally in need of preservation attention.”
If all goes to plan, work will begin this fall, with an expected grand opening in early 2023.
Selectman Andrew Dennington, center, about to axe free-speech in Southborough.
In another astounding defeat for historic preservation in Southborough, the Board of Selectmen, now dubbed the “Select Board” voted to renew the contract for Department of Public Works head Karen Galligan.
Readers will remember that this is the same Ms. Galligan who is under investigation by the State Inspector General’s office (along with town Administrator Mark Purple and former BOS chair Martin Francis Healey, who signed the proposal) after accepting funds from a 290K “Shared Streets” grant from the State for a “History Walk”—a plan they never intended to implement, as was later admitted. In the process, Galligan and the BOS came close to destroying, if not destroying, a potential burial site for Native American and early colonial settlers. The State investigation against Ms Galligan, Purple and Co. is seemingly ongoing, along with a stew pot of past allegations against Ms. Galligan, ranging from potential graft to gross mismanagement to spraying illegal pesticides on wetlands.
(You can watch a short video shown at Town Meeting on this HERE. BOS proposals for St. Mark’s site were rejected almost unanimously by the voters with numerous rate payers of all political stripes standing up to call out the BOS for their duplicity.)
Still, it seems from tonight’s performance, that the lessons about the dangers stemming from BOS arrogance were not fully absorbed, especially by Mr. Dennington.
Dozens of people were in fact waiting in the wings to speak against Galligan’s renewal when Dennington, who is a law partner at Conn Kavanaugh, decided to wield his litigation skills to silence his fellow citizens. In particular, one of our most active members, who had spent the better part of two days cataloguing complaints against Ms. Galligan, was completely shut down and no discussion occurred.
Dennington’s abrupt and uncalled for move to cut off debate was legal, but, to use a not so gentle yet accurate term—incredibly sleazy—especially when it violated the rights of so many waiting to weigh in on Galligan’s poor record and the damage she has done to the historic fabric of Southborough.
It’s obvious from Dennington’s demeanor he was very anxious to cut off any further discussion. And in one slice, he kneecapped democracy in Southborough.
So why would Mr. Dennington, along with three other board members, rush to approve the reemployment of a DPW director (with a raise) who is under active investigation by the State for solliciting a “History Walk Grant”, who has been proved to be incompetent on numerous occasions, and who is roundly reviled by a large number of citizens who petitioned to have her replaced? Is there something MORE to hide? Their action defies reason, unless there are other reasons…
There is obviously more to this story to come. Maybe what’s needed is a citizens’ petition to recall Karen Galligan. It would have no binding effect, but perhaps another public humiliation is what’s needed to get the BOS to act in our interests.
In the meantime, shame on you Andrew Dennington for using your legal skills against your fellow citizens, denying them a voice in their government. And woe to the historic fabric of Southborough under your tenure.
(Full disclosure: I ran against Andrew Dennington two years ago, and was one of several whistleblowers in the recent disclosures about the St. Mark’s Triangle.)
** This post has been edited from the original to further detail Galligan’s role in harming historical assets & and SHS response, in answer to a private letter sent to the SHS Board from Andrew Dennington claiming: ‘Frankly, I think that topic [Galligan] has only a tangential relationship to an actual historical preservation topic.”
A quick reminder that we need your support at Town Meeting tonight. There are a number of very important issues on the ballot that affect preservation issues in Southborough (not to mention your pocket book!) among them articles to prevent the BOS from further desecration of the area around the Old Burial Ground; an article to form a PILOT committee, which might help slow the creeping gobble of historic properties by the private schools; and other measures tangential to good preservation policy, like an article that for the first time would allow for the recall of elected officers in Southborough.
Town Meeting is our one chance a year to express our opinions, and considering that our property taxes are about to take a huge hike upward, now is the time to have your voice heard as to how that money is spent.
It hasn’t been a good month for historical preservation in Southborough. Earlier this year, the Historical Commission was notified that the Fay School, which owns the 1840s home at 42 Main Street, wants to tear it down to build “an appropriately historical structure.” The school is claiming that the building is unsound even though it was continually inhabited until a few years back, when Fay purchased it for roughly 350K.
Personally, I and others will go picket at the Fay entrance if they try to tear down this historic gem. (I already have my placard picked out: Teach History! Don’t Destroy It!) This house was home to the town’s physician, Dr. Stone, for decades and has served a number of other important roles over the years. With its rambling structure and attached barn it is an amazing example of the Greek Revival farmhouse style, and occupies a crucial plot of land directly across from the Town House.
If the Fay school no longer wishes to preserve the property, it should simply put it back on the market, sell it for a healthy profit, and let some young couple rehabilitate the structure and make it a thriving home again.
Unfortunately, I will have to follow the demolition permit process from afar, as last week the Board of Selectman forced me to resign from the Southborough Historical Commission after 21 years of service. It’s a long sordid story which you can read here in MySouthborough, but essentially the BOS got tired of my harassing them about their abject mishandling of the St. Mark’s Triangle project, and invented an excuse to get rid of me. However, as you read the article, I think you will agree the matter is far from closed. As a final volley before I was forced off the decks, the Commission did send a letter to St. Mark’s School, essentially reminding them that as the owner of the St. Mark’s Triangle, it was their responsibility, or rather their duty, to ensure that there were no burials within the proposed construction sites before another spade of dirt is lifted—that is if we wish to continue to believe their claims of valuing diversity and Native American cultural heritage.
Finally, we received back the long awaited architects’ report on the Museum building funded through CPC monies. The story is bleak: the building requires 180K in essential repairs, mostly in long deferred maintenance.
To quote a favorite line from the Philadelphia Story, “this is one of those days that the pages of history teach us are best spent lying in bed.”
Would that the anti-preservation forces felt the same!
(On a personal note, I know all our hearts go out to the valiant, heroic, courageous people of Ukraine. Their horrific struggles set our first-world problems in true context, and we wish them godspeed in their valiant quest to save their homeland. Slava Ukraini!)
We are DEE-lighted, DEE-lighted to announce that as of the 29th of December, Southborough’s Downtown district, and all the structures nominated therein, are now listed the National Register of Historic Places. This has been a ten-year effort, championed by our dear departed friend, the late Kate Matison, who, I am sure, is smiling down from above. Congratulations to all involved, in particular to our good friends at the Southborough Historical Commission who helped push this through.
And in another good omen, the racist and white supremacist battle flags that flew over the January 6th capital insurrection and that our Board of Selectmen voted last spring to maintain in the Old Burial Ground—despite a petition signed by 300 (!!!) individuals here in town—have mysteriously disappeared, poles and all!
Huzzah!
I would like to believe that more rational heads prevailed at Town Hall, but for whatever reason they are gone, and should be gone for good, as the Old Burial Ground is now on the National Register and flying such flags is against federal guidelines. Should they re-appear, a citizens’ petition to have them permanently banned certainly would be on the agenda for the next Town Meeting, and would most certainly pass.
And finally, don’t forget that December and January is our annual appeal! Please consider giving generously. Just click the button below to donate safely and easily online, or mail a check to 25 Common Street, Southborough, MA 01772
Esther Louise Cunningham, née Burnett, was the granddaughter of Joseph Burnett and spent the early part of her life in 1880s Southborough. This is her account of those days, a glimpse into an almost forgotten past of bustles and crinoline dresses, Sunday teas, ice skating on Parker’s Pond, languid horseback rides through the countryside, and exciting trips into Boston by steam train—now for the first time illustrated with more than 60 historic photographs and illustrations to enhance and enliven this charming narrative.
This limited first edition is on sale now, and ships the second week of December. Order your copy now quickly and easily online by clicking the button below.
The newly clearcut triangle between St. Mark’s Street at left and Marlborough Road at right, looking north. Click any picture to enlarge.
Dear Friends,
I would like to share with you a letter I wrote to the relevant Town Board and state agencies as Chair of the Historical Commission regarding the wholesale clear-cutting of the parcel adjacent to the Old Burial Ground. Though this parcel is entirely owned by St Mark’s, the town has apparently reached some license agreement—vetted by neither the Planning Board or the Historical Commission, to reroute St. Mark’s street in order to enhance the sports parking area for the school and create a pocket park. Apparently, the Town is using state funds to do this project, and St. Mark’s is paying for some?—though who is paying for what remains unclear at this point. Unfortunately, this ill-conceived project threatens to unearth human remains and has now destabilized the entire remaining Old Burial Ground tree cover.
The plan for the entire triangle. Click to enlarge.
To: Southborough Select Board; Southborough Planning Board; Southborough Open Space Commission; The Southborough Historical Commission; Mark Purple, Southborough Town Administrator; Brona Simon, Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission and State Archeologist; Southborough Historical Society; Karen Galligan, Southborough Director of Public Works.
1 November 2021
As chair of the Historical Commission, I am writing to express extreme concern about the current road and park project along St. Mark’s street at the corner of Marlborough Road (Rte. 85).
Plans continue for a discontinued playground
Although the Southborough Historical Commission had seen some conceptual plans for a park and history-walk back in the spring, we had not heard about it since, and presumed the project dead. Suddenly last week, the entire triangle bordering the Old Burial Ground, Cordaville Road, and St. Mark’s Street was clear-cut over a period of two days, without consulting either the Historical Commission or seeking the required Planning Board site review and approval. After speaking with Karen Galligan, the DPW head, it now seems that the project is proceeding using only a conceptual plan, with major elements such as the history-walk and playground arbitrarily deleted. With the educational and entertainment features eliminated, what exactly is the point of this project except facilitating expanded parking for St. Marks School?
The plan showing the entire triangle, with park to the left and parking area to the right. Click to enlarge.
Had the Commission been consulted before construction began, we would have again warned the Board of Selectmen that previous ground radar surveys have indicated numerous colonial-era interments outside of the current Old Burial Ground (OBG) walls. Additionally, the wooded parcel that was cleared last week was also the most likely location of the original pre-contact Native American burial ground. Further soil disturbance so close to the OBG risks disinterment of human remains.
A man-made structure unearthed just outside the OBG walls. Crypt? Old Wall? Who knows without a proper archaeological inspection.
Equally critical, the clear-cutting of century-old woodland has now destroyed the windbreak for the trees in the Old Burial Ground, which were already in extremely precarious condition. With this protection removed, the OBG trees will now be highly susceptible to storm damage, which in turn risks the historic markers below.
One of the few remaining street trees I have objected to removing. The decision now moves to the BOS meeting this Wednesday 11/3. Please attend if you can.
Following the Historic Commission’s stated objection about felling trees on scenic roads, I have formally objected to the removal of any further trees on the site, in particular those along Marlborough Road.
Additionally, I would strongly advise the Board of Selectmen to work with the Historical Commission to fund an emergency professional tree survey of the Old Burial Ground with the idea of assessing the state of the remaining specimens, and doing any required pruning or removal before the onset of the winter storm season, in order to mitigate further damage to the burial stones. Long-term, there needs to be a proactive tree and marker restoration plan with sufficient annual funding to preserve the integrity of our most precious historical asset. There should also be a permanent marker acknowledging the Native American presence in this area.
Called widow makers for a reason, large dead branches like this can easily damage the historic markers below.
Regarding the park itself, in my professional capacity as the head of a landscape architecture firm, I have reviewed the proposed planting plan and design, and found them extremely lacking. The plant selection is poor and makes no provision for climate change. Even more worrisome, the entire design was conceived around a central play area that has been eliminated, rendering the current layout useless.
The design for the dead tree berm.
In particular, the proposal to cut down three large trees and use them sideways as some sort of tree-sculpture-berm-structure borders on the absurd, as after only a short period of ground contact, these trees will rot and create a huge legal liability for the town should anyone climb on them. There is also the issue of the historic stone wall along Marlborough road that will be destroyed if the current plans are implemented, violating our own preservation bylaw.
A typical tree in the OBG. The right side hasn’t lost its leaves, it is dead.
I would urge the Select Board to halt this project immediately until it can be thoroughly reviewed and approved by the Town Boards which should have been consulted before construction began: namely, Planning, Historical and Open Space. It remains unclear how much—if any—use by town residents the current “park” would have on such an isolated site without any attraction. The entire concept should be thoroughly reconsidered. Whatever else may happen to this parcel in the future, it is critical the area bordering the Old Burial Ground not be further disturbed, the expansion of the St. Mark’s parking area be visually mitigated, plans be made to restore the tree cover along the boundaries of the triangle, and immediate steps taken to preserve the existing trees and markers in the OBG.
Hard to believe this massive stump was a 100′ living oak a week ago.
The Society is excited to announce two history walking tours on Main Street this October to celebrate our new Downtown National Register District!
The first, Model Farms and Country Seats, will explore the development of West Main Street as an area of vast summer estates for Boston’s wealthy elite. Beginning at the museum, we’ll be taking in the history of Pilgrim Church, The Town House, St Marks, the Kidder, Choate and Sears Estates, as well as a special tour of the newly restored grounds at 84 Main Street, the Burnett Mansion.
The second tour, Merchants and Ministers, will head east from the museum to investigate the history of our main street from its origins as a native American trail to its development as a small commercial center. Stops will include most of the homes along Main Street, as well as the former sites of the railroad station, the Sealey Block, the Southborough Arms, and the second iteration of the Congregational Church. We’ll end up in the Old Burial Ground just in time for Halloween to hear some remarkable tales of those buried within.
Both tours will be led by SHS president Michael Weishan, and attendees will each receive an electronic headset to guarantee easy listening. Starting and ending point is the SHS Museum behind the town hall. While we will be on sidewalks most of the time, each tour is about 1.5 miles and encompasses hills, so comfortable clothes and shoes are a must. Rain dates are the following Sunday at 1 for each tour.
Tickets are free for Society members, $15 at the door for the general public. Advance reservations are required. Make your reservations soon as these will in fact sell out.
COVID restrictions: Age 12+ and full vaccination for all tour participants. Masks at your discretion.
I am constantly amazed at what pops up in Historical Society inbox. A week or so ago I received an email from a gentleman in Texas inquiring whether or not we would be interested in the official 1799 election results for Governor, Lt. Governor and Senator (presumably State Senator.) I replied that we would be delighted, and shortly thereafter this arrived in the mail:
What an amazing document!
The election that year was particularly interesting, as the much respected governor Increase Summer was running for a third term from what turned out to be his deathbed. He managed to rise only long enough to take the oath of office—and died several days later. The Lt. Governor, Moses Gill, (who interestingly was not the first choice of Southborough voters) then became governor. He too subsequently died in office, and it was the first and only time in Massachusetts history that the Governor’s Council briefly ruled the state.
This kind of document can tell us a lot beyond a basic tally. For instance, there were 61 total voters present at the election meeting (no voting booths then) and almost to a man (and they were all men) they supported the Federalist Candidate Increase Summer. That’s a remarkable level of uniformity even in so small of an electorate, and speaks to the conservative nature of our yeoman farmers, as well as the sparse population of the town at the time. You can see also that one of our selectmen, Elijah Brigham, ran for Lt. Governor and was the majority choice of the town. He also was the majority choice for state senator. Presumably that vote was simply one of loyalty to a native son, as it seems he didn’t win either post. Interestingly too, the totals here would indicate that each voter listed his top four candidates in order of preference—in other words, exactly the type of ranked choice voting that has been in the news lately.
The 220 years of travels that this particular document have seen can’t even be imagined. Our kind Texas gentleman was a stamp collector and received the tally as part of a batch of documents some 30 years ago from a man in Colorado. How this sheet of paper got to Colorado is anyone’s guess, but we can safely assert that two centuries later this remarkable document has finally returned home, once again due to the kindness of strangers.
PS: Due to the changing nature of the COVID situation, the Society is not planning any activities this Heritage Day. However, we ARE planning a guided history walking tour of Main Street in late October. Stay tuned for more info on that in a few days.
