We would like to express our sincere thanks to Harvard’s Board of Selectmen for helping us to take a big step forward, as benefactors, by approving Historic New England’s (HNE’s) overseer role with the Pollard-Marshall farm site located at 327 Still River Road in Still River. Their ability to provide governance and oversight, in perpetuity, for Captain Pollard’s historic dwelling and plantation site via their Stewardship Easement Program (SEP) is a unique preservation service, to say the least.
HNE is the oldest and most respected of all historic preservation organizations, not only in North America, but globally, too. They offer guidance and assistance to owners on a range of common homeowner challenges, as well as expert historical restoration advice and resources. They have also shown their flexibility in how they’ve dealt with the challenges of the small farm. Their “farm friendly” contractual language within the SEP is a great example of this. In fact, this aspect was a critical factor for us in having selected them.
The bottom line is that we can move on, knowing full well that the Captain Pollard farmstead and historical artifacts will be protected in an appropriate manner, while offering future owners a reliable resource when needed. If you should have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (info@Flintlock-Farm.com), Joe Cornish (jcornish@historicnewengland.org), or our realtor, John Petraglia (petragliarealestate@verizon.net). These individuals are two of the state’s top experts on historical dwellings and we’re so glad to be represented by them.
We also want to thank both Marty Green and Carlene Phillips of the Harvard Press for helping us make our historic preservation story known. We hope that our friends and Harvard Press readers will help us to find the next “stewards in time” for this significant town asset. If you’d like to take an exterior or interior tour of the farm, please visit the farm’s website at www.1782Farm.com. There is a drone video on the lower left of the home page, and our photos are found under the “Virtual Tours” tab.
Beth and Phil Wilson
Still River Road
