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Executive Board
Meeting Marlow Historical Society / May 8, 2008, Chapel
The meeting was called to order at
6:30 pm. These people were present: Maria Baril, Mary Blank, Gen Ells,
Loisanne Foster, Tom Fuschetto, Pam Little, Art Schmid, and Candy Wiggum.
Loisanne Foster read the Secretary's report which was accepted as amended.
Mary Blank passed out and reviewed the Treasurer's Report. The total in all
accounts was $3386.86 with several amounts set aside for particular projects.
Lydia Stevens
Maria announced that Lydia Stevens passed away during the
night. Lydia has done much for restoration of Jones Hall and other historical
Marlow buildings, for Monadnock Music in Marlow, and for MHS. We are grateful
for her initiative in restoration and her years of dedication to Marlow. We
agreed that Loisanne should immediately send Leon Stevens a card expressing
our sympathy.
Letter from Lorraine Landroche
Maria shared a letter from Lorraine Landroche which
praised our MHS Museum cards and expressed appreciation of our new MHS web
site, the "lens" which highlights the relationship between Marlow
and Lyme, Connecticut. Maria also noted that we have a new member from
Massachusetts, Tina Peters [descendant of John Raymond].
Donation from the Davis Family
Mary noted that we have received a $50.00 contribution
from David and Sharon Davis. Loisanne will send a thank you note.
Hearse House
Tom Fuschetto reported that he has cut the brush and
cleaned up all around the Hearse House so it is ready for Ed [Bucky] White to
paint. Tom will shore up the back center and jack it up. He will put in
wedges and a 2' x 4' to sustain the back wall on a level.
Tom Fuschetto's Report on
Greg Farcqhar's Presentation on Lead Paint Re Jones Hall
Tom Fuschetto reported on Greg Farcqhar's report to the
Selectmen on lead, particularly lead paint as it pertains to bids for the
Jones Hall painting project. Greg spoke as a lead-safe renovator for which he
took an eight-hour course, receiving his certificate on Feb. 13 of this year.
He claims a total of 42 hours of course work. The certification is for
electricians, painters, and plumbers and involves knowledge of lead safety
issues.
Tom said that Greg had reviewed and commented on the bids
for painting the outside of Jones Hall. His point is that eventually we will
have to treat lead in public buildings as we treat asbestos. The leaded paint
chips must be contained. Paint chips must be shipped in a special air-tight
container to New York for analysis. If there is lead present, the cost of
scraping and painting would be substantially increased. We know that, every
time Jones Hall has been painted, it has been scraped. We think that there is
no lead above the allowable amount in the Federal Guidelines, but we don't
know. Tom suggested that, to avoid the possibility of future lawsuits, Jones
hall paint chips should be tested for lead content. The cost is $500.00. Tom
recommended that we recommend to the Selectmen that they have Jones Hall
paint tested for lead content, and we agreed.
Tom reported that the Selectmen believe we should have
Jones Hall paint tested for led content, and the Town will pay for it. After
the test, they will come back to us, and together we can decide what to do.
Tom said that Ross Malcolm said that the laws requiring certified persons to
deal with lead paint pertain to residential housing, not public housing.
Still, we agreed that we need to know what we are dealing with. Ross Malcolm
also provided a list of risk assessors and a list of certified lead-removal
contractors.
Jones Hall Painting
Tom reported, and we certainly agree, that the moisture
problem needs to be addressed before new paint is applied. The Marlow Fire
Department now has an X-ray machine to look for "hot spots" in
which air does not circulate. If such spots can be located and air can be
made to reach them, that could possibly solve the moisture problem. We can
only hope! Previously, we had discussed the idea of wedges inserted under the
siding in the offending spots to allow air circulation.
The last time Jones Hall was scraped and painted on the
outside was 1978. The cost was $17,000 all together. $11,000 was paid by the
Town and $6,000 was paid by the MHS Preservation Fund which also provided
restoration funds for The Odd Fellows Hall [Marlow Academy] and the Methodist
Church. Tom Fuschetto made the point that we must not accept bids with
variables, as that could set us up for a much larger expense than we had anticipated.
Art Schmid reemphasized that we absolutely must have the test for lead
content done as a first step. We are looking at a possible date for
Jones Hall painting as the end of August or beginning of September, but, of
course, it depends on several factors. Mary reports that the Selectmen now
have Fred's recommendations for paint choices, including California paint
brochures.
Selectmen's Meetings
The Selectmen have asked that more MHS Board members
attend the Selectmen's meetings after the results of the paint test comes in.
Village Cemetery Grave Stones
The Cemetery Trustees are getting quotes for repair and
preservation of gravestones at the Village Cemetery. Work will begin this
year.
Letters for the Conservation
Commission
In keeping with our mission to work with the Marlow
Conservation Commission, we wrote two letters in support of their bid for a
grant to assist them in a Historical Resources Inventory.
Town Pound Sign
The Town Pound Sign has been removed to the Highway Bar.
The frame has rotted, and the sign needs to be replaced. We need to get
quotes for a new sign board, and we need to purchase vinyl lettering. One
person (a non-member) has agreed to donate to the cause. Tony Davis has made
a new frame. Candy Wiggum suggested that we at MHS cover whatever
expense needs to be covered after the donation, and added, "This is part
of our mission." We agreed to do this.
Gravestones in the Vault
The Cemetery Trustees needs volunteers to inventory and
trace the gravestones (halves and whole) in the vault. This inventory would
then be used to find homes for these stones. There are 44 halves to be
matched. The McCourt family has given $50,000 in Trust to make repairs to
Marlow cemeteries. This yields about $2,000 each year for the work.
Burnap House
Pam Little had written a letter on behalf of MHS to Audio
Accessories informing them that results of our research show that we cannot
accept their proposal because we cannot legally place the two houses, the
James Burnap home and the Aldrich house, on the designated Pockett property;
however, we still wish to save the Burnap House, and we are open to other
proposals. So far, we have had no response.
Candy suggested that we propose a solution. Pat
Gallup could donate the Pockett property to Audio Accessories rather than to
MHS, and the Aldrich house could be moved onto it Audio Accessories would
have the Pockett property and the Aldrich house in exchange for giving us the
Burnap house. Pam Little will write a letter to that effect on behalf of MHS.
Elm Trees
Our three remaining elm trees in pots are in good
condition and have been watered twice already this year. Mary will arrange
with the highway crew to plant the trees.
We still need volunteers to adopt a tree or trees to water
this summer. We will list the trees to be watered and post the needs.
Candy suggested that we invite the children to care for the elm at Perkins
School. We agreed.
Gerry Plotts will visit The Elm Institute to learn what
they have to tell us about fertilizing.
Gen congratulated Candy on the tulip plantings by the elm
trees at The Quiet Place.
Chase Family and Shrubs
Gen proposed that we thank the Chase family for caring for
the six shrubs recently planted. All agreed.
Painted Drapery
We have five painted backdrops. Three are in Jones Hall,
hanging. MHS had one of those restored about six years ago. Two more were
found wadded up under the now removed stage of Murray Hall (The Grange), now
owed by the Historical Society. Most Marlow citizens have seen the restored
one. Mary had written to the Project Director of VT Painted Theater Curtains
of Burlington asking for advice
Chris Hadsel of the VT Painted
Theater Curtains Project
Would be willing to come to see Marlow's painted scenery
curtains. She writes, "...We charge $50 per treatment proposal, but not
more than $200 total, even if you have more, plus a tank of gas. This gets
you a written conservation proposal for each piece including the whole
question of how and where to hang them... The document is what you need to apply
for grants or do other fundraising..." She speaks of a "Curtains
without Borders" Project. "We work on-site, right in the hall. You
provide the tables, volunteer assistance, and overnight accommodation... We
keep the costs to a bare minimum because our primary interest is preserving
these wonderful pieces for your people for another 100 years."
With so much on our plate just now, we tacitly tabled this
project, but it bears consideration.
Adam Plumb
Since Adam has not been attending our Board Meetings for
many months, we wonder if he is still interested in being a Director. We
realize that his first job is his schooling and that he is quite busy with
his Eagle Scout Project. Mary will call him and broach the subject of
continued Directorship. We also speculate that perhaps the Conservation
Commission might be an appropriate recipient for his outdoor project.
Town-Wide Yard Sale
Maria volunteered to oversee a book sale outside Murray
Hall for MHS and later perhaps take likely unsold books to Toadstool Book
Shop for sale among their used books.
Memorial Day Services
We planned our part in the Memorial Day Services. Al and
Mary will do the "fans and flags" for the village. Rock will take
care of the cost of geraniums, and Mary will plant the red geraniums on the
Green. Candy will vacuum the Museum in preparation for its opening on
Memorial Day. Mary will host at the Museum until after the Service. Gen Ells
will serve after the Service. Maria will help with the memorial Day
refreshments.
Glen Knoblock on New Hampshire
Cemeteries
Our program sponsored with The NN Humanities Council is
ready for May 15, 7:00 pm at Jones Hall. Gen, Pam, and Loisanne will bring
cookies, and Mary will provide the drinks.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05
pm. The next meeting will be Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Loisanne Foster
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