HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanowicz Letter of OppositionGood day Erica,
I am firmly against moving or altering 49 Putnam Avenue, the Ebenezer Crocker Jr. House.
This 1783 home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is not just a structure
but a defining piece of Cotuit’s history. Relocation or removal for convenience or
development would destroy its historic setting and diminish the character of the entire
village. Taking down the original ell would further degrade its character.
Owners of historic homes must realize that they are merely temporary stewards of these
beloved structures and their sites. What the owner does to these homes and lands, while
under under their care, must be for their preservation and not for the owner's
convenience,, disregarding the property's past. These buildings and land must remain
historicaly intact as an entity.
Maintaining the integrity of these cherished homes should be a consideration of the buyer
before purchasing them and not regarding them merely as someting to be altered or
relocated at their whim. If this historic property, as a whole, did not fit the needs of
the current owner, then maybe he should have reconsidered purchase it. People will come
and go through Cotuit, but historic homes will remain and must be maintained in their
original location for future residents to enjoy.
If we allow this kind of loss, we can never get it back.
John Janowicz
42 Crockers Neck Rd
Cotuit