
CONTENTS: NEWS
An example of
idea of adaptive reuse of historic properties. Who would have
thought that Hudson and Weston had more than a few letters in
common?
Why is it important to have a Main Street and a Cross Street?
Impact on parallel street, too, as we later learned there would be?
- Adaptive Re-Use: Not a new idea, and current mention in Westport...
- Other structures deemed historic or not...
Merritt Parkway structures and let us not forget that this is an example of great landscape planning public venture! but subject to blackmail by C.G.A.? With friends in the right places or not?
Bridges:

News of September 2019 Hartford Historic District Commission:
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-frog-hollow-church-historic-properties-20190924-myy3y4kb5bdsngmg6kytka52ma-story.html

HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL
The Hudson River, 21st century;
the type of nature painting unique to America began in the Hudson River
Valley and its "school"; Frederick
Edwin Church's Olana
preserved. Olana is away from downtown,
with "country" look similar to Claverack (lots of fields) - but
Claverack has Dutch farm houses close to the street and not "Persian"
mansions high on a hill!
From About Weston's 1970 master's thesis on historic and architectural
landmarks in Hudson and Claverack, N.Y.: Original art
@1970. The survival of Olana not at all a certainty when
this thesis and its illustrations done.
The character of the "main" street and the "cross" street in downtown
Hudson should have made the backbone for any redevelopment or as it
turned out,
rebirth, of the city. That was our assumption. And Hudson
has flourished as the years went by, becoming, we understand, an arts
and antiques-centered community!
THE INTRODUCTION: Necessary to retain backbone of historic development of the city and its suburb.


Religious institution on the "main street"

Single family homes on the main street, also - this one near the
river...and some further
away from the river...

One of several churches, but this was also
on the main drag.

Multifamily residences on the mail street

On a cross street on the way to the court house. Now offices for
lawyers, we think.

Cross street housed major institutions, such as the court house
square
and at the other end, what is now the Department of Taxation
(above). Not pictured here: the County Courthouse (which
look exactly like a courthouse of the vintage of other landmarks
illustrated)!


HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Regular Meeting of the Historic District Commission
Wednesday February 9, 2022 at 8pm
The tacit approval of new drawings for the barn at 114 Lyons Plains Road
led to setting a Special Meeting for next week (Tuesday February 15th at 8pm on Zoom to post notice on line. Officers were elected for 2022.
Meeting adjourned at 8:48pm.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Wednesday 10-7-20 via Zoom
Norfield Road changes approved - the further improvements discussed previously.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday Jan. 16, 2o020 at 7pm
Town Hall Meeting Room

Second story on rear of firehouse corner not visible from street...or parking lots.
-
Public Safety Facility - EMS Headquarters and Police Entry addition
approved 4-0 for "certificate of appropriateness."
- Retroactive approval
given for bench placement and design in honor of beloved community
member.
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Wednesday January 8, 2020 at 8pm
Town Hall Meeting Room

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A brief agenda included election of officers (Chair., Vice Chair. and
Clerk). All three officers are now Democrats on the five-member
body (which as a couple of alternates).
Historic District Commission met at 8pm, Town Hall, and entertained presentation on exterior
elements of Public Safety Facility - EMS Headquarters.



AT END OF MEETING IT APPEARED NO PROBLEM BEING CERTIFIED
This HDC meeting turned out to be a "preliminary" hearing - Public Hearing set for Jan. 16, 2020 at 7pm, Town Hall Meeting Room.


Special Library Board Meeting Monday June 22, 2020 7:30pm via ZOOM - http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/20200622LibraryBoardSpecialMeetingAgenda.pdf

Present:
(We are not familiar with most of the membership of this Board - we can
identify its Chair, former Chair and member who also sits on the
Historic District Commission.)
Richard, Susan. Anne, Tom (had to go to a fire), Karen, Lori, Sharon, Amy J, Amy S., Cyprian.
7:33am
AGENDA
1. Accept Richard Wolf’s resignation as a member of the Offutt
Center Committee. Letter of resignation read aloud - as we heard
it, resigning because he opposes strongly this design concept.
Accepted with regret. Amy, Amy - discussion. Passes with one
abstention.

We were asked to "leave" at this point. They will email me when
they are out of executive session. And they did but...
Since we were "previously asked to leave" we were not able to rejoin the
ZOOM meeting (see above).
2. Executive Session to discuss the Design Agreement between the Town and Jacunski
Humes over a bit after 8pm. NO ACTION TAKEN ON THIS AFTER GOING OUT OF EXEC. SESSION.
We were able to watch the rest of the meeting Tuesday. The ZOOM video was sent promptly in the morning (Tuesday).
3. Discussion of Offutt Center Projections:
3 page draft document to be presented at the July regular Library Board meeting. Looking for $$ reductions.
How will they be able to make use of the new facility? Staffing increases? Distance learning $$?
Deadline.
4. Discussion of new Library Board emails. All members send
e-mails. Segregate work e-mails. Rancor with HDC. .gov
to g-mail.
5. Adjournment
Rick, Amy J. unan 8:31pm.
SOME ATTENDING THE DEBATE FOR POLICE COMMISSION WONDERED "WHERE WILL LIBRARY ADDITION GO?"
LINK HERE TO ARCHITECT'S DRAWINGS: http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/LPA_Weston-Library_.pdf

About Town thinks the general location is...in the neighborhood above...see drawings.
The Historic District Commission voted 4-0 with one abstention to issue a
certificate of appropriateness, as noted already, below.
2019 LATEST ADDITION TO "DRAB AND ORDINARY" LIBRARY GETS OK FROM HDC ON OCT. 16th
The full report on critique of Weston Library design: https://nplusonemag.com/issue-34/reviews/vernacular-modernism/
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION APPROVES OR CERTIFIES 4-0 (1 abstention): http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/WESTONHISTORICDISTRICTCOMMISSION.pdf
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Town Hall Meeting Room

No decision.
2019 in the First Historic District:
After Public Hearing was closed, the Historic District Commission questioned the architect.

September 11, 2019 Historic District Commission Public Hearing on addition to Weston Public Library.
How did it go? First there was the Public Hearing, 90 minutes.
- Which opened with presentation first from architect, about addition to library;
- Then eighteen separate members of the public asked question, made statements - some more than once. See below.

EXPLANATION OF WHAT H.D.C. DOES: WHY THIS PUBLIC HEARING DIFFERS FROM OTHER MORE FREE-RANGING TOWN EVENTS
It was explained how the CT statutes have changed for Historic
Districts since the @1956 first district for Weston - and very helpful
to know - that the HDC has a review process:
- Schematic Design (9-11-19 was that one),
- Design Development,
- Construction Documents,
- Bid process
- And then Construction.
We left after Public Hearing.
HDC 9-4-19 gave its approval to "Town Green" proposal in the First Historic District.

MAP FROM FIRST REVISION TO THE TOWN PLAN OF C&D, 1987

Weston, CT Historic Districts as established by the Historic District Commission
Source: Town Plan of C&D, 1987; enlarge by clicking here.

THE WESTON GRANGE

Two-Acre Residential and Farming comes from our farming heritage!
http://www.thewestonforum.com/57716/norfield-grange-in-weston-celebrates-120th-anniversary/

THE WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY - WELCOME TO WESTON CT
Annual Meeting June 14, 2020 held virtually on ZOOM

Present: Pam, Kathy, Tom, MSW, Eileen, Leigh, Deysenroths, Skip, Dallas, Susan, Kareen, Leslie, Richard, Marcia, Mark, Fran, Barrons. Bob
New Board Elected. Leigh Meccay, Pam VP. Mark Treasurer, Kathy Secy.

Gifts.
2000 people per year visit annually.
Engaging all generations. Westonstock.
Founders Day.
Girl Scout Scare Fair
Missing Manuscript.
"1920's" NEW to be in 2021.
BUDGET
MEMBERSHIP PLUS
$71k in contributions. Net income $2,400 plus. $32,000 on hand $460,000 plus endowment.
Offutt Grant (s). Restoration.
EXEC. DIRECTOR

Reinterpretation of Coley House. Bring it back to the
1940's...Jimmy Coley's room to have the toy collection.
COVID-19. Painting done. Cleora's office. Nurse and
ran the house. Upstairs: 12 moments in Weston History.
Floors refinished. Wallpaper same as in the 1940's parlors.
Lace being made in Scotland. Italy for reupholstered.
VIRTUAL OUTREACH
COVID-19 requests sent out - WMS teacher writing unit - journal
entry. Why it is important to document history - 44 story
submissions.
HISTORY BITES
NEW WEBSITE
We left the meeting after one hour or so.
Alice Delamar
Eva Le Gallienne
Katherine Ordway

WATERCOLOR OF BUST OF ALICE DELAMAR. THE SCENE AT COBB'S MILL INN -
CENTER OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN WESTON HISTORY (OR HER STORY).
- The year is a bit fuzzy (1983 we think) my first watercolor exhibit was at Weston Library, just after her death.
- At P&Z, the estate was subdivided as "Imperial Bridge" with difficult entry off Norfield Road onto Ridge Road.
- Searching assessor's records we located where various notables of the literary and arts community lived (i.e. Ridge Road).
- Will Cobb's Mill Inn ever re-open? Play a part in the cultural life of the community?
WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXHIBITION
TO HONOR THREE LADIES WHO SOUGHT PRIVACY IN WESTON AND WHO MADE IT A
COOL PLACE (Alice Delamar, Eva Le Gallienne and Katherine Ordway)
https://patch.com/connecticut/weston-ct/case-missing-manuscript-weston-mystery?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter