QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Wilmington Do Enough To Preserve Its History?

Here is Wilmington Apple’s Question of the Day for July 14: Is Wilmington Doing Enough To Preserve Its History? 

The question is timely after today’s demolition of the Whitefield School.  (Photo from Wilmington Fire Deputy Chief Gary Donovan on Twitter and shared with permission.)

Back in March, Historical Commission Chair Kathleen Black Reynolds told the Selectmen that the Historical Commission faced many limitations when exploring grant funding to preserve the Whitefield School.

“The biggest limitation that we see is the town’s lack of an overall master plan for its town-owned resources, including its historic resources,” said Black.  “It’s kind of a vicious circle.  Before we can apply to any funding source, we have to have a proposed project with an intended use for the property.  And, without that, we can’t really even apply for grant funding.”

Reynolds listed several additional limitations making grant-seeing difficult for the Whitefield, including: no future or planned use for the building; the building and lot being town-owned; the building being in a residentially-zoned area; the building still being under the school system’s purview; the building being vacant with no upkeep; the the building needing roof maintenance and other repairs; and asbestos being present in the building’s shingles.

“The fact that we don’t have preservation mechanisms in town also creates a hardship for the [Historical] Commission to do what it would like to do,” said Reynolds, who indicated support for a ‘demolition delay bylaw” and the adoption of the Community Preservation Act in Wilmington.  Reynolds also called for improved communication between the Historical Commission and the town’s Public Buildings Department.

Are you OK with the Whitefield being demolished? How about the town attempting to sell the Butters Farmhouse with preservation restrictions?  I assume you’re over the Swain’s demolition at this point, right? What do you think will eventually happen to the Roman House?  In the grand scheme of things, do you feel the town is doing enough to preserve its historic buildings?

Let Wilmington know via the Wilmington Apple Facebook page, via the Wilmington Apple Twitter page, in the comments section below, or via email at wilmingtonapple@gmail.com. Any responses may be used in a future article.