Caesar Robbins House listed amongst Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources
Contact: Jim Igoe or Erin Kelly, 617-723-3383
Historic house in Concord, home to several generations of early African-American families faces extremely unstable future, and impending demolition
The Caesar Robbins House in Concord has been named one of Massachusetts’ “Most Endangered Historic Resources”. Since 1993, this list is compiled annually by Preservation Massachusetts, the state’s historic preservation advocacy organization.
The house serves as physical evidence of Concord’s Black Heritage, built by one of Concord’s freed slaves, Caesar Robbins in about 1780. Robbins was freed along with several others as a result of a series of 1780’s court decisions declaring slavery unconstitutional in Massachusetts. Architecturally, the house is a significant example of a house-type rare in Concord today-the l-story five bay, one room deep cottage of the 18th century. Historically, the house served as the meeting place for at least one Concord Female Anti-Slavery Society.
Jim Igoe, President of Preservation Massachusetts feels strongly about the future of the Caesar Robbins House in Concord. “This tiny cottage holds an incredible, if not widely unknown, history. The direct ties to Concord’s early African-American roots and the nearby Old Manse give this modest home an incredibly diverse history. The great local efforts on the Robbins’ house behalf will hopefully benefit from even more visibility and support as to the importance of this house.”
The immediate concern is that the town’s “Demolition Delay” for the house expires on September 12, 2009 which means after this date the current owner is free to demolish this important and evocative piece of African American history in Concord.
The Cisco Homestead in Grafton was also listed amongst 2009 Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources List.
The other endangered sites are: Milton Poor Farm (Milton), Peace Haven (Freetown), Blackstone Viaduct (Blackstone, Foreclosed and Abandoned Neighborhood Properties (Massachusetts), and Lincoln Square (Worcester).
Please visit www.preservationmass.org or call 617-723-3383 for more information on this year’s endangered list.
About the ‘Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources’ List
The Massachusetts Most Edangere Historic Resources Program marked its 15th anniversary in 2008. This list has become an effective tool for preservationists to focus statewide attention on the condition of individual historic properties and their importance to communities. Of the more than 130 historic sites designated as endangered since the list’s inception in 1993, fewer than a twenty have been lost.
This year’s list was culled from nominations submitted by preservation-minded groups and individuals throughout the state. Submissions are judged by several criteria, including their historic significance, the extent of the threat and the community’s commitment to preserving the resource.
Founded in 1985, Preservation Massachusetts is the statewide non-profit organization that actively promotes the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes as a positive force for economic development and the retention of community character.
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