Good evening and welcome to the Akusha Historical Commission meeting for July 14th, 2026 and it's around 6:32. May I have a motion to open the meeting? >> So move. >> I'll second.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Um for the flag, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Pledge to the flag, please. >> Okay.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Trivia question for you. Who was
president of the United States when they added the words under God? >> Eisenhower. >> Yes, he's going to write. It was Eisenhower. >> Eisenhower. >> Yes. >> Figures it was a Democrat. That would have been 1950 something. >> Yeah, that's when he was president,
right? >> He was elected in 52 and then I'll tell you what his record and his record as president was too low on people. The guy was very popular on it.
>> He kept Nixon at bay at least. Yeah. And uh No, I said, >> you know, he turned up to >> him. Remember who his vice president was? >> His vice president.
>> Oh, his vice president was next throughout all the whole the whole time. >> Okay. >> Okay. Hey, I got a question if we can start off with one. >> Okay. >> Um, we put in uh we found out last
meeting that parting ways was a historical building. >> Mhm. >> And we were supposed to see if we could get funds to fix the chimney. >> Well, we don't have to because they were granted funds through town meeting. >> Okay. The town meeting did approve them.
>> So, that's a roof. the roof on this building and the chimney on pottingways. >> I didn't even know that. I found out at the last minute. >> So, what are they gonna do to it? >> The chimney. They got to repair it. >> They can't tear it down because it's a
historical building. >> Yeah. Cannot tear it down. >> That's all I wanted to know. >> I meant the chimney. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They can't tear it down. >> Okay. So, Yeah, on that's all to be taken care of now
on the chimney library. So, the library I don't have an answer for. >> Well, that was me. Yeah, I was supposed to make up a letter, but like I say, I've been sick off and on for the last month. >> So, uh I'm going to that that'll be my next project.
>> Okay. >> If you can >> I'll get a letter together and uh do I have to get it approved by us or even if I'll just sign it my name >> but don't does everybody here want to read it or listen to it first before I mail it to the >> I would think so.
>> Okay. So, next meeting I'll have the letter Mhm. >> And uh we'll go from there. I'll make up a very nice letter with a few digs. >> Careful. >> Careful. We got a new town administrator. >> Yeah.
>> And he's really >> And we got a new select. >> So, >> yes, we do. >> I'm going to stop coughing. >> It's warm in here. >> It's warm everywhere. >> Everywhere. I know. I know. >> Horrific.
Okay. Um, so may I have a motion to accept the minutes from last month's meeting? >> So moved. >> Okay. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Okay.
Okay. Now, okay. So, we were able to get all the funding for the museum work >> from town meeting >> and I hope to start within the next couple of weeks. Uh, all interior work will start later this year cuz they
prefer to do it through the winter. So, we'll end up using more oil this year if we're going to keep the building heated. That's another issue. Um, now we're going to start looking for funds for work on Perry Hill Church. I do have a
couple of contacts uh to reach out for for funding for some of the work at Perry Hill. Um Wendy, the the preservationist that did the work on the building, she gave me uh quite a bit of information for sources,
okay, for funding. So >> is it are we still going to get funds from the government to repair that building? Well, we're not going to get anything yet because they have nothing available. I already checked with the girl that writes the uh >> um
grants >> and there's nothing available right now, but they'll probably be coming out with something a little later this year that we can apply for. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um but there are a couple of sources. one is in Plymouth and she gave
me the information on calling the gentleman and she said he has helped a lot of people in this area get funding so it's almost a plus you know >> so where is he in Plymouth >> he's in Plymouth >> where is he >> um I should have brought the paperwork
with me >> is he city official or >> no no no it's not a city official it's a uh a company that is situated in Plymouth >> and that's what they do They do a lot of uh um grant writing, you know,
>> for all different sources. So, I'm going to contact him. I just haven't had chance. I'm home now and I still don't have time. Well, yeah, I got to tell you after about the lum system at the museum. Oh,
boy. H. All right. So, we're going to start looking for funds for the Perry Hill Church. I did bring this book uh with us with me tonight because I was going through it and it's got you know information that when we were doing the
work on the building okay the funds that we got from the town and okay and what it needs like it needs all blue board inside we can't put sheetrock it's going to be blue board and they get skim coat it with plast so now I got to
start getting estimates for all of This then the first estimate actually is the flurring underneath the remember it was an issue. Well anyways um less stac had
contacted me about it uh about the uh church and saying he wanted to you know help out with it cuz he was involved with it in the beginning. But uh he's got a copy of the plan that shows the underneath and what they need to be
done. So he's going to get in touch with the engineer in Rochester and find out qu he's going to question him as to why it needs so much. The only problem we ever had was in that front corner when
you come in on the right side in the corner that floor was rotted out because of you know water leaking through the roof and all that. The rest of the flooring I mean you can walk in that building and that flooring is stable. So
why do we have to spend thousands to do the underneath the support? Is there some type of uh regulation or whatever that has to support so much weight? >> Well, that's what he's saying. >> That's why he's he's asking for that to
be done. But, uh, Les looked over the plan cuz I've got two copies of the plan and he took one and he was looking it over and he said, "It doesn't really make sense because we never had issue with all the flooring. Was just that
right corner." So, uh, he's going to get in touch with the engineer, then he's going to let me know what we need to do from there on. Okay? Because there's only a 3ft crowd space. In fact, I was in in here. I was going through the
papers when we had the building insulated. They insulated under the floor. >> They crawled underneath there and they insulated up. So, that has all been done. And it was saying how they had to crawl on their stomachs. It's only about
3 ft. That's a nasty job. >> But anyways, yeah, that was part of it. See the the electric the electrical work. We had to pay him off because it was dragging out forever and it's not
finished. So, we got to get an electrician in there again. I got estimates from two or three different electricians, you know. So, there's a lot of stuff that we got to start doing. And uh the first thing,
yeah, here's here's the engineer, AP Apex Engineering. We paid him a lot of money. God al, you know, we got nowhere because we couldn't get money from the town to do
any of the work. And here it is. Apex engineer. This is all engineering. Then he he gave me the plan. So I do have two copies. Um yeah, saying about the the hatch on the crawl space that when they went under
there and they came back out, they couldn't put the hatch back the way it should have been. So we had to have somebody go out there fix that. Did he give any estimates on the total repairs that need to be done? >> Well, he's only the engineer. So, he
gave us plans, but no estimates. >> All the plans go to a contractor. >> The contractor will give us estimates. >> He gave me the names of three different contractors that he's worked with. And out of the three, I had sent a letter to
them and one of them responded with, "Could I see a copy?" So, I had smaller copies home that I could email to them and I did. Haven't heard a word back. So, it could be that they're thinking,
"Oh, this is a big job, you know, or who wants to deal with the three foot club space?" >> Nobody. >> That may be the problem, you know. So, um that's the cold space hatch.
I'll tell you, we we gave him a lot of money for all for the work that we did, but you know, we're no further ahead. Um, yeah, that's to be like the work's going to be uh
ongoing there for quite a while. >> Mhm. >> To before we can even use it for a club. >> Yeah. Boy, boy scout meetings or whatever they want to, you know. >> Yep. Nope. And I still, you know, the bathrooms are another issue because I do
not understand why we can't put in just one bathroom handicap. Unisex handicap. >> Sure. Who says we can't probably build inspector the last one and know this one
said it's not up to code. There's going to be three. >> But being in an historical building, isn't there an exception to that? >> I've asked um that Michael Stein it through Mass Historical. I've asked him about it and he says we got to go up to code.
It's got to be up to code. >> I don't understand. >> What that distract from the uh original floor plan? >> Yeah, because you can't fit a bathroom in that building. >> No. >> Nowhere. the room that's there, a
utility room. I thought we could get away with that room, but it's too small. >> In fact, I was looking in in here also. I've got about handicap handicap bathrooms and how it's measured. You're going to have so many
feet away because of a wheelchair. >> So, what are we going to do? Put an addition on for a bathroom. >> Well, that's what was talked about when I uh last year. I believe it was last year when I had the teachers from Old Colony. >> It sounds expensive.
>> Yeah. Well, they would be doing the they would do the work. We'd have to buy the material. >> Mhm. >> And they would do the work. >> Sure. Sure. >> I mean, we could have an electrician. >> There's a carpenter. >> And there was another guy. I'm not sure what he was for, but they all work
together. >> Volunteers >> from No, they're teachers at Old Colony. Well, I meant volunteer their work. >> They wouldn't charge us for the work. >> Is there enough room for an addition? The land in the back of that meeting house.
>> We got land back there. I don't say it's a whole lot, but >> You mean the church? >> The church. >> The church. We That's what they had mentioned to me when they >> We don't need a hell of a big addition for a bathroom. >> Yeah, they could put the back of the building. How about can you just get
porter parties when they have an event? >> I already said that and I already got boom down. >> I didn't. >> No. >> What about the How come there's no more events at the meeting house like we used to have? >> We haven't had no events there. Well,
from now >> there's no bathroom there, right? >> There's no bathroom. >> Is that why? Um well what I've been told by >> spot for you know big space >> they've told me that because there's
there's no running water there's no bathrooms uh that that building technically should not be open to the public now there's only >> what about for to like if you wanted to open it up like you do with the museum
if somebody wants to go in and see it. Can you do that? Oh, I do that. >> You do? >> I do. People if people contact me that they would like to do >> or if like you had music there, you had a car show there. Can you still do that? >> I Well, I plan to do the car show this
year. And what happened? He passed away. >> Oh, um Charlie's name. No. Oh, God. What was his name? Oh, you're into car.
Is that you? >> The guy from uh >> Oh my god. Lakeville, not Charlie Angels. Why you say that? >> Anyway, he Yeah, >> he passed away. >> He's the one that used to run it.
>> He ran the car shows. He ran them for years. There was a big write up in the paper a couple of weeks ago about him. >> He did die, right? The guy died. He was going to you put on his car show had he lived I suppose up at St. August the church in East Freetown
you know when they have their festival. >> Yeah. >> But they they said sorry that is not going to happen this year because he passed away and no there was nobody to pick up anybody else. >> Well I I had one guy that uh used to work with him.
>> The guy that died what was he? Is he anything in the town? Not in the Kush. He didn't live in the Kusha. He lived in Lakeville. >> Yeah. >> But he was the car show guy, you know. >> Yeah. >> I can't think of his. It's not Charlie Angel something. Angel.
>> So there's not going to be a car show this year. >> Unless I can find somebody else. >> That's not the same as what they do out here. You're talking that's separate, right? With the one they have. Yeah. That's what I thought. >> I don't have nothing to do with this. >> We're talking about at the meeting house.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I thought you were talking about the one we having this summer here. >> Oh, no. That's nothing to do with me. >> Please don't give me another job. >> Who's the who runs the car show? >> Yeah. For the time. >> No, it's
>> Yeah. And he died. And that's why they're not going to have >> Oh, it is him. >> Yes. And that's why >> John, what's his name? John. >> That's why they're not going to have it this year. >> Unless they can find somebody to do it. But the problem that I see uh by going
to the car show is you got to have people there, a lot of people directing what's going on. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. You know what I mean? Now, last year, >> what's Kevin selectman? Kevin, >> he was out there screaming and yelling and getting all the cars where they were
supposed to be. Now, whether he'll do it again remains to be seen, but they still need somebody to organize the whole thing. >> Yeah. You know, you got you got vendors and music and >> Kevin organized it with Matt um Matt
Lopes. >> Yeah, >> Matt Lopes was involved with that too with Kevin. >> So maybe a car show is not a good idea since they have that one anyway. >> I know in Fair Haven they do a car show and it's um Mr. Maderas in Fair Haven. I don't know if he runs
all these car shows or whatever. But last year they had I mean the last car show they had here was packed. It was extremely busy. >> When I do the car shows up there in the meeting house, we always had a big turnout. We used to have almost 100 cars
up there. They go all the way back in the field. What a shame. I mean those we had all cars. All kinds. >> Beautiful car. >> Did it bring any money in? Yeah, we used to charge um the car
people coming in to see them. We used to charge $5 a car. >> We didn't get rich either, but it was something for them to do, >> you know. >> Um I don't know. I know somebody that knows that man for Haven. I'm going to
call him and see cuz I don't know if he does it anywhere else but for Haven. So I don't know. I can't believe Johnny Angel. >> Johnny Angel. That's his name. >> There were songs in there. >> Yeah, I think so.
>> That was his name. He used to do the car show. Well, you remember when they did the car shows downtown? Joe Jesus, and he passed away. >> Well, he died, but they're still doing it. >> Mhm. >> And Johnny Angel, he used to have his
cars down there. They they might be closing downtown, I heard, because they had a three stabbings there last uh >> Oh, that was at the park, the Willing City Festival. >> Yeah, they've already been advertising on the radio about the car show,
>> isn't it? With today's Tuesday, isn't it Thursday night this week? Cuz they've been advertising on the radio. >> Show where? >> Dem. Yeah, they have bands there and all, >> but it's a nightmare trying to get close to it. >> Yeah,
>> you got to park in the parking garage and walk up. >> Oh, no. I can't walk like that anymore. Too much. Too much. Too much too far. >> But anyways, so that's where we're at with this. And I mean, the other thing too that we're going to have to look
into would be a handicap ramp because that building is not handicap accessible. So, from the back door to the yard, we're going to have to see about getting us some kind of a >> can we get a variance
>> for if we have to put an addition on and it's not too close to the property line, etc. >> If we get permission from the the property owner, >> what property owner? >> Whoevers the property at the church who
owns all that. I would have to go through John help >> either the planning board or board of appeals or whatever. >> And we'd have to get permission from the selectman before we could even do this. >> What though? >> What's it going to be used for?
>> It's not very big inside. >> Oh, you'd be surprised. It's got all the pews in there. I mean, you got them in the middle and you got them on both sides. So it really and then you've got upstairs there where the uh the choir would be. >> Mhm.
>> We got two organs in there too. Two beautiful organs that were donated. >> You know, Pauline, you're talking about bathrooms. How much land have you got for a septic system? >> Well, that's another thing. We won't even be able to do that. We're going to have to probably go with a tight tank.
>> With a Wow. >> Tight tank. They have a tank and then what you do is >> sewage goes into the tank and then you pump it out. >> You keep pumping it. >> When I lived on Long Pawn, that's what they were doing for all the new houses. >> You had if you if your septic system
wasn't approved, then you had to put a tank and and this one person I knew had uh to go all the way to the top of the property near the dirt road with the tank. >> Oh. >> Cost it was over $20,000. Oh,
>> they did a lot of that for the beach houses after Hurricane Bob, >> right? >> The rebuilding. They made them. >> They have to eventually just like Long Pawn. Now, Long Pond, the thing that ruined Long Pawn was putting in a public boat ramp. >> But what they did all them 90% of them
cottages around that pond were built in the 20s, >> 20s and 30s. Now, >> they were cottages. >> They had all they had for a septic system was a an igloo, a stone field stone igloo, >> a 55gallon drum that Oh yeah. >> And well because I I grew up on that
porn and uh we used to have to have the pumped out every year >> and that's what they're going to have to do. But they're going to have to get approved tanks, >> right? >> Oh yeah. We're going to have to go through a lot. Oh, >> that could be expensive.
>> There's no way we're going to be able to put a septic in there cuz there's just not enough room. >> No. No. As it is, there's not much parking. If we do anything in that backyard, then no cars would be able to drive in there
>> at all. It would have to be closed off on either side. >> No. >> Um, you can't drive over that. >> No. No. >> In fact, I was even told that maybe I should go see uh the Gordens next door to see about maybe if they would let us
use for parking part of their land. But he's not doing well. He hasn't been too healthy. He's >> He's passed away. >> He did. >> Steve passed away. >> When? >> Quite a while ago.
>> Oh my god. I didn't know. Somebody just told me to go see him. >> He passed away. >> No, that was >> We went to the wake. >> Oh my god. >> Well, I knew he was pretty sick. I knew he was.
Oh joy. I'm bumping my head up against the wall. That's what I'm doing. >> I think so, Paul. >> Yeah. >> After all this, >> we can only do so much. Do you >> I have been working on this since 2011.
>> I know, but I'm saying only do so much. I mean, if it can't happen, it can't happen. >> No. You know something? I I can't I can't make myself stick over it. Well, you get to agree that >> I've been sick over it for many years
already cuz it was always a downhill fight. You know, anything that I wanted to do with that building. But thank God the people that we've got in office now are more helpful and more willing to work with you.
>> Who would ask me that? >> Okay. Uh oh. That's all I got. Huh? Okay. That looking for funds. Yep. >> All right. Anything else that you want to bring up? >> What about the chimney leak at the potting ways? >> They got the money at town meeting, too.
>> I know they're going to repair this because you can't take the chimney down, >> right? They know that. >> They're going to The money is there to repair it. >> Y >> and a new roof on the M on this building. As far as I know, they got to do the roof here in >> chimney.
Not sure. >> Uh okay. Anything else? Uh under new or old business? >> Can't see anything. >> Now the work being done on potting waste buildings around the chimney that that's
got nothing to do with us, right? >> Yes. No, they got money through uh town meeting, >> right? >> I know that. But >> yeah, it >> No, I mean of our hands now. >> It is a historical building, right? >> It is. It is. >> What I'm saying as far as the work goes >> Yeah. That's out of our hands.
>> When was it built? Do you know the year? >> A 18 I was just looking at tonight. This one is 1851. >> I I'll find out. And the museum is 1875.
I think that one's older. I think that one is older than 1851. >> I think the paperwork went back even further. I can't remember off hand. >> They should have lifted a school. >> Yeah. >> Then they could have gotten all the
funds I needed. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Seriously. >> I used to walk down the street from John Street down to school. >> I lived on Cleveland Street. I used to walk to school third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth grade there. >> That was great. And then they sent us to
Whites Dairy for some reason for seventh grade where the library >> and I'll never forget one day all the cows were in a field and there was a thunderstorm and they stamped and took part of the fence down. It >> was a nightmare. Anyway,
>> oh my god. I don't know. I don't know. I don't actually I don't even know where to start cuz I can tell already this is going to be I hope not. Let's put it this way. I
hope not. I hope it's going to go at least if we could get it up and get it so we could use it. You know, we could try to get a minister around that could do services there on Sunday. >> Seems to me the whole thing right now is
the is the bathroom. That's, you know, if you can't get a bathroom in there, you can't use the building, right? >> But that's not the only problem. And that's not the first problem. First, we got to find out what what we have to do with that floor. If he turns around and
finds out that we it is not a necessity, which according to that plan, it is. >> Well, you're gonna have to get contractors in there. >> I don't want to stop getting contractors in there yet until I hear from less to
find out what he found out from the uh engineer. >> Mhm. >> Cuz that engineer gave me the three names of contractors and none of them showed really any interest. And that's only the beginning. >> We don't have to worry so much about the
exterior because the exterior is in very good shape. They redid it outside. >> Yeah, it is in pretty good shape. >> And the doors were replaced and we had all the windows repaired with these the old glass >> new new porches in. Right. >> The the porches on the front. Now that's
another thing another complaint. The porches on the front are made out of pressuret treated wood. So what's the complaint >> that? >> Why? >> Because in historic building they didn't have pressuret treated wood.
>> Paint of wood. Close to know. >> Well, I'm not saying nothing but already somebody today walking by there. My I guess my husband was up there checking it out and this man walked by and he said, "Those porches are pressuret
treated wood." >> Yeah. Yeah, >> I don't see where that's going to be a problem. >> That does not belong on this old building. >> Oh, >> again. I don't see where that's going to be a problem.
>> Well, if that's the case, no bathrooms either because that's not >> I don't see why you can't just have a big can in the closet. >> Oh, Jesus. I you I'll have to have you talk to the guy at Mass Historical and see how far
you get. They're pretty adamant of what they need and what needs to be done. And oh my god, >> I mean, even the preservationist, all the work she did on that building and I gave her Oh, I got so much on Perry
Hill. I filled one whole box to go into the safe over here. Filled one whole box just with Perry Hill stuff. Okay. And I gave her a lot of it for the research. She went through everything. She couldn't believe what I had on that
building. She couldn't believe it. >> But anyways, you know, we haven't gotten any further. >> Mhm. >> Um, she gave me the name of that company in Plymouth. that I guess that's going to have to be my start to see what kind of funding they would be able to get for
us and how much and um I don't want to start getting bids on the floor because until less gets back to me to let me know definitely this is what we got to do. >> Mhm. You know,
we even talked about these companies that go in and raise the building up. >> Yeah. You I got figures like 200 grand. >> Yeah. I was going to say that. >> So that's a no no.
>> So whoever does it is going to have to crawl on his belly underneath there >> to do it. >> It's been done before. Well, that's what I've been told. But I don't want to be there. >> I'm sure there's companies that have done.
>> Yeah, I'm sure. But you know, >> when are we going to have the next meeting? You have a date? >> Uh, next meeting? >> August. >> August. I didn't put the number.
Okay. Oh, that should be easy enough. How is my calendar? No. Can my calendar say just say second Tuesday of the month? third >> August.
Let me see. 4 11 the 11th of August. >> 11th. >> Mhm. >> Second Tuesday. So that's it until I know a little bit more
on what what's going to happen. >> Yep. you know, from the engineer, then we'll have an idea. >> It's too bad because we I had people interested in like I had one lady that she was a um
a professor at UMass Dartmouth. >> Mhm. >> And she wanted to rent it out to do uh ceramics, >> but we don't have water. >> Yeah. >> See, we didn't have no running water. >> Mhm. >> So, you have to sink a well or is there city water out there?
>> Oh, there's water. It's at the corner of Menle Road, so they got to bring it to you. Yeah. Jeez, I can't believe that about Mr. Gordon. I'll call you. I got when you get
>> My god. He never came in the paper. >> How old was he? >> Oh, he >> I'm not sure. >> He must have been in his 70s. >> He's younger than I uh Yeah, probably early 70s, I would think. Cuz I remember when he was working with D Rosh, they
did work at the museum and he was doing the sheetrock. >> Yeah. >> That was before he got sick. That's how I met him. >> He did the plastering in the house. >> He did what? >> We remodeled it. >> Then we used to sell his honey. He did honey.
>> So she's all alone in the house then? >> I guess. So she's got kids, but I don't think any of the kids lived with her. >> Oh my god. What's her name? Jill. H say her name's Jill. Yeah. Are >> we going to adjourn?
>> Yes. If you don't have anything else, >> I'll write the letter this month and get it so we can approve it. >> Yep. >> And we'll find out what's going on with the library. And that's about it. Unless we hear from uh these contractors about the church
>> and we'll go from there. You can only take a step at a time. There's no sense in driving yourself crazy. >> That's right. >> No, because everything else will drive you crazy already. >> We're going to be starting work on the museum and that's going to be on the
exterior of the building. So much rotted crap uh clapboard all around that building. >> I took a walk Friday night of Friday night. the uh carpenter that's going to do the work called me and said, "Can you meet me out there at 6:00 and tell me
what what needs to be done?" We were walking around the building. I'm showing them all the rotten wood, especially on the back half where the patio was. Oh my god. And on the second level, it's terrible. Terrible. We got all the way around the building, the raindrops came.
Remember last Friday night that I said, "Oh no, raindrops." I know sooner said it, it poured. Him and I both ran to our cars and got in. I said, "Oh, fuck." Crying out loud. It was It
came down so heavy it flooded everything around the museum, the driveways, the street. Oh my god. >> We got over 4 in. >> It was bad. I stayed right there. I said, "I'm going to wait until it slows down because I know Main Street all the
way down is horrible when it rains like that." >> So, I stayed there and I waited for a while and then I went home. I'm telling you, never a dull moment. >> No, no, there never is. >> Never. >> All right, then. May I have a motion to adjourn? So,
>> move second. >> Second. All in favor? I