Historical Commission members Wednesday night heard the request of M/M Jason Arnold of 167 Central Street to demolish their two story carriage house/barn. Jason stated that he had Mark Dellicker of Dellicker Construction look at the building and he deemed it not worth saving. The commission members, seeing no historical significance in the building, voted to allow the demolition.
When it came to lights at the intersection of Whitney and Washington Streets, the commission said they wanted to be included in discussions as the old train depot/post office were in the immediate area.
Restoration of the five old town cemeteries has begun. Funds for the work totaling $380,000 were approved at town meeting via the Community Preservation Committee. The work involves tree work as well as work done on the retaining wall at the back of the Central Burial Ground.
The tomb of Major Jacob Miller in the Hopping Brook Cemetery remains covered by a sheet of plywood. The crypt became ajar from time and age and the commission hopes to restore the Revolutionary War soldiers final resting place to a proper condition. Miller a native of Holland, was commissioned a Major in the same regiment as Paul Revere. Miller commanded the Fort at Castle Island in which 36 other Holliston men served. Due to the slope of the cemetery and the closeness of Weston Pond to the crypt an engineer’s thoughts on the process are in order.
The possibility of moving the Metcalf Pump House came up for discussion Wednesday night. Should the town receive the approval of state agencies to develop the former Axton Cross site on Cross Street into a new DPW site, commission members pondered moving the pump house which was built in 1870 to Cross Street from its present location. Its present location near the intersections of 126 and Route 16 leaves little parking space or nearby parking space to access the building which is on the National Historic Register. The pump house once served as the location of Hydrant 3 (a hand tub) which is now stored in the water department’s (old foundry) Central Street location. Members believe the pump house could serve as a living museum with the return of Hydrant 3 to a Cross Street location. Commission members were also torn with the fact that a move of the pump house may lose some of its historical significance.
Consider moving the pump house to the Historical Society grounds on Washington Street, possibly on the north side of the barn. It could be interpreted there and possibly used for small functions.