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?

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.




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.
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:
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).
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