I watched the Sept. 14 Select Board meeting and was amazed to see that there was still some enthusiasm for creating a recreational park on the lot where the Bromfield House sits.
I understand there are very strict legal rules about what may be done with any property influenced by the will of Margaret Bromfield Blanchard. I know that the Bromfield trustees are bound by court decree to make sure any property or income from that property is used only for educational purposes.
Any proposal that doesn’t fit the trustees’ interpretation of “educational purposes” should not even be on the table for serious discussion. It is a fact that the town has interpreted “educational purposes” more leniently than the Bromfield Trust. But, if the trustees and town are not in agreement, the chances that any proposal would pass the required reviews by both the Probate Court and the Attorney General’s office are slim indeed.
There are currently no viable proposals for an educational use for the Bromfield House property. It is my conviction that the house and lot should be sold to a private owner as a residence. It is a beautiful house and would continue to grace that corner at the entrance to Harvard. Instead of incurring expense, a sale would generate substantial income, which would go entirely to supporting the education of Harvard’s students.
Bev Rodrigues
Old Littleton Road
