Clark House Fate To Be Decided By Sept. 1

Two years ago, the Thomas Clark House – the historic pre-Revolutionary residence that was located on Common Street for two-and-a-half centuries – was on the brink of being reduced to rubble after a developer purchased the building's homestead to build new upscaled homes.

But the efforts of historical preservationists, the town and individuals saved one of the five oldest homes in Belmont, lifting it off its foundation and transporting it a quarter mile to its current location on Concord Avenue adjacent to the White Field House across from the Underwood Pool. 

Yet after a year-and-a-half of attempting to find a permanent home, the example of Belmont's history (including some suggestions that it was a stop on the Underground Railroad) of being a "town of homes" is once again on the edge of being reduced to a pile of wood and bricks as its current owners face a Sept. 1 deadline that will likely seal the home's future.

"That's a real deadline for us," said Sean McDonnell, president of Boston-based Architectural Heritage Foundation which holds the title to the house, who told 15 residents who attended the meeting on Wednesday, July 10, that his non-profit is facing a $10,000 insurance payment that is required by the town to allow the house to remain at its current location on blocks on a side area to the field house.

"Time is at a premium," said Historic District Commission co-chair Michael Smith.

The payment comes after efforts by the AHF and the town's Historic District Commission to secure a long-term home for the Clark House have fallen through, including one involving as a year-long negotiation between an unidentified developer and the First Armenian Church located on Concord Avenue that was the "best chance" of succeeding yet fell apart three weeks ago, according to Smith.

While supporters have raised $87,000 to preserve the house, the AHF have already paid $8,000 of its own money into the house and the prospects of asking its board of directors to shell out $10,000 for a project that doesn't have secure future prospects has little chance of passing.

"If we were asked for the $10,000, I would say 'no' without a location (for the house)," said McDonnell. 

"We have to find a place in Belmont or we have to dismantle it," said Smith, as he has talked to the North Bennett Street School on taking down the house.

Now the AHF and the Historic District Commission are scrambling to find a place to locate and backers to preserve a piece of the town's history that will incur both town political and financial backing.

"Until now, we were looking at this as a private developer securing the future of the Smith House," said McDonnell. "But now it's going to be a pubic/private partnership." 

Suggestions such as town park land on School Street across from the Wellington School or at the corner of Myrtle and Concord were discussed but dismissed as too costly. And Lydia Ogilby, owner of the newly-designated Richardson Farm historic district, "gave a very firm 'no'." said Smith.

The most likely locations would include land next to the Belmont Public Library or on the town Common which is located adjacent to the First Church of Belmont, Unitarian Universalist at the corner of Common and Concord. 

A library location would allow for the building to become a historic learning center and home of the Belmont Historical Society which now resides in the Claflin Room on the library's main floor.

"If the Clark House is important, and I think it is, it could used as (the Society's) home," said Smith. 

Smith said that one source of the nearly $400,000 it will take to move the building and set it up at a new site would be from the town's Community Preservation Committee which distributes monies to preserve historic structures. 

Locations include next to the Belmont Public Library or on the town Common which is located adjacent to the First Church of Belmont, Unitarian Universalist at the corner of Common Street and Concord Avenue. 

They suggest that the Belmont Historic Society would be a natural long-term steward of the house and would be able to operate the building in the future. 

But in McDonnell's view, there must be support from the town's leaders, specifically from the Board of Selectmen, on assisting on plan that has a likelihood of success especially since the nature of the plan to save the house has changed. 

"This is much more on the public side and pubic funds then in the past," said McDonnell which will allow the house to be used as public meeting and events space along with being used by school and other groups.

"And I think that there is a good chance that we will know by mid-August if we gain traction on our plans," said McDonnell. 

"If there is some viable hope, such as movement on funding from the (Community Preservation Committee) or a location is seriously considered, I think that the AHF will continue to be supportive," said Smith.

"But time is short," he said. "I'm not giving up hope."