Date: September 15, 2022
Project Title: Dormer Restoration at the Peirce Building
Applicant/Contact Person: Emily Surette, Assistant to the Town Manager Name of Organization/Department: Town of Middleborough – Town Manager/Facilities Address of Organization/Department: 10 Nickerson Avenue
Address of Project Site (if different): 99 North Main Street
Telephone (work, home, mobile): 508 947 0928
Email: surettee@middleboroughma.gov
Select one primary category and one primary purpose for your project:
CPA Category: ☐ Open Space
☐ Recreation
☒ Historic Preservation
☐ Community Housing
CPA Purpose: ☐ Acquire
☐ Create
☐ Preserve
☐ Support (Community Housing only)
☒ Rehabilitate/Restore
CPA Funding Requested: $50,000.00
Total Project Cost: $50,000.00
Project Description: The dormer on the Peirce Building has sagged, causing structural damage in the walls and deforming the roofline. Project work includes restoring the dormer roofline,
replacing the window with a historically accurate installation, and painting of the walls, windows, and dormer exterior. This work is part of the larger Peirce Building restoration project with the goal of restoring functionality of the building while preserving the structure’s historic features. This project meets the following historic preservation goals listed on page 32 of the Community Preservation Plan:
1. “Acquire, preserve, rehabilitate and/or restore, and provide permanent protection for Middleborough’s cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources of historic significance, especially those that are threatened”
a. Restoring the dormer remedies the structural issues caused by the dormer’s sagging. Additionally, addressing the sag and replacing the window with a historically appropriate installation will restore the historic appearance of the building.
2. “Protect and invest in Town-owned properties, artifacts, documents, and resources of historic significance, especially those that are threatened, to ensure their sustained viability”
a. The Peirce Building has been owned by the Town of Middleborough since 1935. It possesses notable historic architectural features and is a significant historical asset for the community. Project work will restore the building’s exterior appearance and protect the building from structural damage.
3. “Integrate historic preservation with community housing, recreation, and/or open space projects wherever possible”
a. As previously stated, this work is part of the larger Peirce Building restoration project. Discussions regarding building reuse are ongoing, but potential future uses include versatile community space for performing arts and community meeting spaces.