The council finally voted to designate the house as a local historic district. It was a long and exhausting fight but the building is officially protected. We will keep an eye on the property to ensure the owners respect the new rules.
October 15, 2020
Final supporters
To the Medford City Council:
We, the undersigned Medford residents, ask that the City Council vote in support of the creation of a single-house Local Historic District for the Haskell-Cutter house, located at 16 Foster Court. This unique building is under imminent threat of demolition, and we urge you to act quickly to save it for the benefit of the entire Medford community. The many compelling reasons to preserve this property include the following:
- The Haskell-Cutter house was built in the very early 19th century, in the Federal Period;
- It is one of only three examples of a Federal-era Cape Cod house in Medford still standing and retains exceptional integrity for its age;
- Past owners and inhabitants of the property had ties to Medford’s shipbuilding industry;
- The house is located on Foster Court, which led from “Ship Street” (now Riverside Ave) to the shipyards on the Mystic River;
- Foster Court was named for James T. Foster, who ran the last shipyard to operate in Medford’s shipbuilding industry;
- The house was converted to a two-family in the mid-19th C, when it housed shipbuilders and others in the industry;
- The house meets criteria to be recommended for the National Historic Register;
- The lot on which the house stands could accommodate both the preservation and reuse of the historic house, as well as further new development by its owner.
The small number of historic homes left in Medford is decreasing rapidly. Properties are under threat of demolition in order to construct buildings of 2 to 10 or more units. The result of these losses has been the erosion of the historic landscape and the addition of disruptive new elements into the streetscapes of our city.
The Haskell-Cutter House represents an important chapter of Medford history. The Council has the opportunity to save an irreplaceable piece of the city's historical record, which once gone, is irretrievable.
The Haskell-Cutter house should be preserved. We urge you to support the creation of a single-house Historic District for the property.
For more information on the house: Haskell-Cutter House
___________________________________________________________________________
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 8, 2020
September 8, 2020
The days feel long and the process is draining but we are gaining ground. We need to reach two hundred and fifty signatures to hold the council accountable for the fate of this house. Please reach out to your neighbors and get them to sign so we can force this issue to the forefront.
Reached 100 supporters
September 1, 2020
97 Comments
This is a piece of Medford history worth preserving, that future generations might see and gain real perspective about daily life, craftsmanship and scale of homes during that time. There is no reason that this meaningful home could not remain in harmony with A future vision.
Please preserve this rare and well preserved example of Federal-era architecture. We cannot replace these historic buildings and once they are demolished, they are gone forever. A plaque is not enough to teach our children about our history!
Medford needs to save its historic buildings. We’ve lost too many already. Belmont, Winchester and Salem do a wonderful job of preserving their historic buildings; we must, also.
Please count me as one resident and homeowner who wishes to see the Haskell house preferably preserved, even if additional units are built at the rear of the property.
I strongly support sustaining Medford's heritage by preserving houses such as the Haskell-Cutter house. It has stood for 200 years and should remain as an example of early 19th century architecture and Medford's role in the shipbuilding industry.
Preserve our history!
preserve our history, pls!
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The council finally voted to designate the house as a local historic district. It was a long and exhausting fight but the building is officially protected. We will keep an eye on the property to ensure the owners respect the new rules.
October 15, 2020
Final supporters
To the Medford City Council:
We, the undersigned Medford residents, ask that the City Council vote in support of the creation of a single-house Local Historic District for the Haskell-Cutter house, located at 16 Foster Court. This unique building is under imminent threat of demolition, and we urge you to act quickly to save it for the benefit of the entire Medford community. The many compelling reasons to preserve this property include the following:
- The Haskell-Cutter house was built in the very early 19th century, in the Federal Period;
- It is one of only three examples of a Federal-era Cape Cod house in Medford still standing and retains exceptional integrity for its age;
- Past owners and inhabitants of the property had ties to Medford’s shipbuilding industry;
- The house is located on Foster Court, which led from “Ship Street” (now Riverside Ave) to the shipyards on the Mystic River;
- Foster Court was named for James T. Foster, who ran the last shipyard to operate in Medford’s shipbuilding industry;
- The house was converted to a two-family in the mid-19th C, when it housed shipbuilders and others in the industry;
- The house meets criteria to be recommended for the National Historic Register;
- The lot on which the house stands could accommodate both the preservation and reuse of the historic house, as well as further new development by its owner.
The small number of historic homes left in Medford is decreasing rapidly. Properties are under threat of demolition in order to construct buildings of 2 to 10 or more units. The result of these losses has been the erosion of the historic landscape and the addition of disruptive new elements into the streetscapes of our city.
The Haskell-Cutter House represents an important chapter of Medford history. The Council has the opportunity to save an irreplaceable piece of the city's historical record, which once gone, is irretrievable.
The Haskell-Cutter house should be preserved. We urge you to support the creation of a single-house Historic District for the property.
For more information on the house: Haskell-Cutter House
___________________________________________________________________________
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 8, 2020
September 8, 2020
The days feel long and the process is draining but we are gaining ground. We need to reach two hundred and fifty signatures to hold the council accountable for the fate of this house. Please reach out to your neighbors and get them to sign so we can force this issue to the forefront.
Reached 100 supporters
September 1, 2020
97 Comments
My mother was born and raised in this house (left side) in the early part of the 1900's. I've been to the house many times to visit my grandmother when I was a child. This is an important piece of history and should be saved.
This is a piece of Medford history worth preserving, that future generations might see and gain real perspective about daily life, craftsmanship and scale of homes during that time. There is no reason that this meaningful home could not remain in harmony with A future vision.
Please preserve this rare and well preserved example of Federal-era architecture. We cannot replace these historic buildings and once they are demolished, they are gone forever. A plaque is not enough to teach our children about our history!
Medford needs to save its historic buildings. We’ve lost too many already. Belmont, Winchester and Salem do a wonderful job of preserving their historic buildings; we must, also.
Please count me as one resident and homeowner who wishes to see the Haskell house preferably preserved, even if additional units are built at the rear of the property.
I strongly support sustaining Medford's heritage by preserving houses such as the Haskell-Cutter house. It has stood for 200 years and should remain as an example of early 19th century architecture and Medford's role in the shipbuilding industry.
Preserve our history!
preserve our history, pls!
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My mother was born and raised in this house (left side) in the early part of the 1900's. I've been to the house many times to visit my grandmother when I was a child. This is an important piece of history and should be saved.