Two more historic properties are in line for permanent preservation restrictions following support from city councilors.
The City Council’s Planning and Development committee unanimously voted on Sept. 16 to recommend the full council approve proposed preservation restrictions on two Gloucester properties: the William Haskell House and the Temple Hayden Cottage.
Proposing the restrictions is Historic New England, a nonprofit that works to preserve regional history by stewarding properties they own and working with private property owners to put preservation easements on their properties.
Historic New England representative Elizabeth Paliga said at the meeting that preservation restrictions require both state and local approval and the proposals need to go before the full council next.
The oldest portions of the William Haskell House, at 11 Lincoln St., dates back to 1680 with additions added in the early and late 18th century as well as an “L” edition added in 1928 by sculptor A.H. Atkins.
While the house has seen many owners over the years, it initially housed William Haskell, a local farmer, selectman and Gloucester’s representative to the First Great and General Court in Boston.
Over the centuries, the various property owners have maintained much of the houses’ historical integrity and Paliga said its English post-medieval construction is uncommon.
Since its construction, the house has not been moved and property owners Natalie and Richard Samuelson are looking to work with Historic New England to ensure the home will be protected after it is sold.
The couple listed the home, which they have owned for four years and operated as a summer home and Airbnb rental, for $1.25 million in early July because the cost of upkeep has grown too high. As of Thursday, the 3,000 square-foot, four-bed, three-bath house is still on the market for the same price.
Paliga said the restriction would protect the exterior and interior of the house as well as its landscaping, but a barn on the property, which was used as a sculpting studio, would not be included.
“It’s not as historically sensitive and we wanted to leave it as a more flexible opportunity for owners to upgrade without approval needed,” she said.
The Temple Hayden Cottage was originally built in 1924 after Samuel Temple and Ruth Anderson moved a 1750 house from Canton to a plot of farmland on Eastern Point, according to Paliga.
What makes the cottage significant, she said, is the fact that it’s a “half-house.”
“It’s only half of a house, there should really be two more windows on the left side to make it a ‘full-house’ but there is not,” she said.
Anderson was an acclaimed painter, studying under Eastern Point artist Cecilia Bowe, Temple was a well-known lighting designer and the two were very active in the local arts community, according to Paliga.
She added that the couple were members of the prominent artist group that spent time in Gloucester including Bowe, Henry Davis Sleeper and Isabella Stewart Gardner.
Historic New England purchased the property from the Hayden family in 2020 to prevent a private developer from negatively impacting the cottage and the nearby Sleeper-McCann House.
Paliga said Historic New England has spent the past six years figuring out the best way to preserve it and if the preservation restriction gets fully approved, Historic New England would put the house on the market.
If approved the preservation restriction would protect the building’s exterior and landscape from alteration, neglect and demolition but not its interior due to its condition.
“This house has not been inhabited for over a decade and is in serious need of upgrades but it is also quite odd,” Paliga said. “The main staircase is crammed in the corner and they used a bedhead as a railing, so for anyone who is not able-bodied it is a little bit of a risk.”
There is also a garage on the property that will not be protected because, even though it fits in with the cottage, it was constructed in the 21st century, according to Paliga.
Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-675-2714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes.com.