Akin Open House Weekend

Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 9:00 A.M. to Noon
Sunday, October 19, 2008  - Noon to 3:00 P.M.

The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust [DHPT] is pleased to announce a Fall 2008 Akin House Tour and cordially invites Dartmouth residents and visitors to tour this historic property at 762 Dartmouth Street, in Dartmouth during the weekend of October 18 and 19.  The DHPT board will be on hand to conduct tours of the house and property on Saturday, October 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and on Sunday, October 19 from noon to 3 p.m.

DHPT extends a special invitation to town meeting members to visit the house and the site, which for the past two summers has been the center of activity during which archaeological field work yielded thousands of artifacts and objects. The Akin House story continues to unfold as fragments from the digs are unearthed, processed, and catalogued.

The 1762 Akin House was saved from demolition by Town Meeting when in 2003 it funded WHALE’s purchase of the property through CPA funds.  After completing phase one of a multi-phased conservation plan, WHALE transferred the property to the town’s Historical Commission in March 2008.  In May, DHPT signed a lease agreement with the town becoming stewards of the Akin House.  This responsibility entails the management and care of the property, and the oversight of the house’s ongoing restoration and preservation work.  

Diane M. Gilbert, President, the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, said, “This month, DHPT will ask Town Meeting to vote on a warrant article to use $195,000 from the Community Preservation Act historic preservation reserves to address badly needed emergency stabilization and foundation repairs.  It is necessary that DHPT continue this important conservation work, to be followed by the design and development of the town’s first cultural heritage and education center after the restoration is completed.”

Peggi Medeiros, DHPT Clerk and Research Historian noted, “The conservation and preservation of this house is a text-book case for community preservation funding, and as a work in progress, fully meets the criteria of the Community Preservation Act for eligible historic preservation projects it was enacted to fund.  By law, 10% of CPA funds must be used for historic preservation purposes.”

“The 1762 post and beam house is considered to be a historically significant and preserved structure by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The Akin House is on the State Register of Historic Places and is eligible for National Register designation on the basis of both its architectural and historical importance. There is no other project on the horizon to compete for these funds and there is no better project that speaks more authentically about Dartmouth’s special character and its rich historic legacy.”

Ms. Gilbert added, “DHPT urges town meeting members and the community to visit the Akin House at our Fall Open House on October 18 and 19. Please stop by to visit, ask questions, share stories about local history, and join DHPT in saving this house.”
 
“The true worth of our cultural heritage will be measured by what we preserve today for future generations to appreciate and enjoy tomorrow.  To borrow a phrase from our neighbors at Preserve Rhode Island, this is about ‘our past, your present, their future’.”

The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust is a 501 (C) 3, nonprofit preservation organization established in 2007 to protect and preserve architecturally and historically significant structures and sites located in the town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts and surrounding communities, through the acquisition of such structures and sites, and easement interests therein, through providing financial and technical assistance in connection with the preservation and restoration of such structures and sites, and through education and advocacy.

For additional information, please call Diane M. Gilbert, President, the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, (508) 993-1216, or Peggi Medeiros, Clerk, (508) 992-9624,