Reprieve? A New Public/Private Plan to Save the Clark House (Again)

The Thomas Clark House has more lives then a cat.

Once again, just as it appeared that the historic 260-year-old homestead moves closer to being reduced to a pile of wood and plaster, a last-minute reprieve is being hatched by the town's Historic District Commission to save the house (again) from becoming a historical ash heap.

According to Mike Smith, HDC co-chair, "we are looking at another public/private" proposal that will preserve the pre-revoluntionary house saved from demolition by a community-wide effort that moved the 1760-era structure from its long time homestead on Common Street to a temporary location adjacent to the White Field House on Concord Avenue in February, 2011.

The new plan comes after an "arrangement" with the First Armenian Church of Belmont located next to the Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue to place the structure on its property fell through this spring. 

Speaking before the Belmont Board of Selectmen at its Monday, Aug. 26 meeting, Smith said he will release all the information on the latest proposal soon after Labor Day next week, as the new plan is currently being vetted to determine that the latest trial balloon is viable for all parties.

Only then will the HDC and the Architectural Heritage Foundation – which holds title to the house – will begin fundraising to obtain the $11,000 needed to insure the house for an additional year at the site.

"We are not trying to deceive anyone (giving) if this can't be done," said Smith.

Clark House supporters now have until Sept. 14 to raise the money and put a workable plan in place or "the house would be gone ..." said Smith.

Stay tuned.