Editor’s note: Following is a copy of a letter sent to the Historic District Commission, which is scheduled to discuss the First Parish Church on Thursday, Nov. 13.
To the editor:
I believe that the First Parish Building Committee is working hard to try to show that the present proposed rebuilding of the Stearns Room fits in with the center of Lincoln and the historic district. I hope the Historic District Commission (HDC) will carefully consider the impact this proposed addition will have on the beauty and simplicity of the white church itself. There are alternatives to the present proposed plans that would perhaps fit better with the original building.
When the present Stearns Room was built, it was carefully planned so that “the addition to the white church, white clapboard with simple detail, is completely subordinate to the church. Like the addition to the stone church, it is in large measure behind the original building, and not particularly noticeable from the street” (Inheritance: Lincoln Public Buildings and the Historic District by Margaret Mutschler Martin, 1988).
When Colin Smith approached the Flints about obtaining a small parcel of land, he talked about a very modest project. The Flints as well as others have voiced concerns about the proposed project and would hope HDC will carefully consider these concerns:
- The size of the proposed new addition is larger than the white church itself. The proposed dimensions do not respect the adjacent property owner and blatantly flank the sanctuary, diminishing it. Warren Flint Jr. said a large addition would “dominate and would visually destroy the form of a classical New England church.”
- A large oak tree is slated to be taken down along with other smaller trees and shrubs. At present one can hardly see the Stearns Room. The proposed addition will protrude into the field and affect the view from it.
- The proposed windows do not echo the church’s shuttered windows, which were carefully carried into the design of the current Stearns Room.
- Metal roofs clash with New England churches. One will find very few metal roofs in southern New England and the purpose for the metal roof is to shed the huge amounts of snow that northern New England receives. The roof should not be an architect’s signature.
- The proposed loggia distracts from the columns on the white church and is in competition with them.
- The height of the proposed roof is a concern, as it is higher and has a steeper pitch than the original addition. The height of the proposed roof is going to affect the view of the church from Bedford Road and the new addition will dominate the simplicity of the white church.
- The wall of windows at the back of the church will change the rural character of the agricultural field behind the church. The conservation commission stated in their letter that “clearly, the intent of the town and the Flint family was to maintain the open pastoral setting of this land, located in the heart of our community.”
The First Parish has worked hard on the proposed plans, but that is not a reason to approve it. The town may not remember what has been said in these meetings, but the future community will see what was built here. Warren Flint Sr. often said, “You can’t stop change but you can guide it.” I hope the HDC will carefully consider these concerns and do what is best for the town to preserve its historic character.
Sincerely,
Nancy Bergen
27 Lexington Rd.
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.