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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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