Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

A Non-Update

Recently I wrote about the public safety hazard wrought by the abandoned house beside the Blackington Building on Main Street. In that post I referred to the town of Southbridge, and their inaction to remove unsightly, and dangerous buildings from their landscape. The article was written to be a subtle "kick-in-the-ass" to the powers that be to take some action.

So far, nothing. Not an email, a phone call regarding the article, and I know they read it. It was sent to the Fire chief here in town, the Building Inspector, the Board of Health, the Town Administrator, among others. There were many others that read the piece as well.

So, why no response? Why nothing? Is it because individually they don't have a clue as what to do next? Most likely, they are very aware of the danger, but have not shared their feelings with other in town government, who most likely, feel the same as they do. As a result, the building still stands as it has for all of the nine years I have been here, abandoned, run down, and a fire waiting to happen.

And, it's on our Main Street, for crying out loud!!!

The town is empowered to act. As a matter of public safety, it is their obligation, and duty to act.

Now, I might be a bit cocky here, but I wonder if the building would have been allowed to remain as it is for nine months, never mind nine years if it was located next to the Public House, and not in Fiskdale?

Actually, I don't have to wonder. I know.
Scribbled by on

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousTuesday, June 02, 2009

    I'm not sure you have all your facts. I understood that from time to time the owners of this house have been working on it.
    I'm not a Building Inspector so I'm not sure that this house should be torn down. Perhaps it would be best to have it "officially" inspected and if its okay perhaps someone like the Housing Authority could rehab it for affordable housing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousWednesday, June 03, 2009

    I don't live far from the house, and I drive by it twice a day. Nothing has been done to it for years. I understand that there are no utilities connected to the house. It is not only a safety concern, but an eyesore. The yard is strewn with old building materials and equipment. If the owners have been working on it, then they are doing it all by phone. It needs to be inspected, and the town then needs to make a determination. I am glad this was brought up. that old house has always bothered me. If I had $300,000 I'd rehab it it and live in it myself!

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