Emery Estate Proposal - May 2022

Town and Weymouth Historical Society Partnership:

The Emery Estate provides the perfect setting to display the varied history of the town of Weymouth. There is ample parking and restroom facilities on the property for visitors and the main house has significant space to showcase much of what Weymouth has to offer. Although not ideal, there is ADA compliant accessibility to the first floor.

The Weymouth Historical Society (WHS) was once housed in the basement of the old Tufts Library but has since relocated its extensive collection of Weymouth History to the small Holbrook House where due to space and accessible conditions the Society has no proper way of exhibiting these collections to share with the public and viewing these collections is very limited. In fact, the majority of exhibits are boxed up and being stored in less than ideal circumstances.

The Emery Estate needs a tenant with a public inclusive purpose, and the WHS needs a place to call home. The Society is a 501c3 and the Emery Estate is owned by a municipality. This unique public/private partnership not only opens the property up to an expanded amount of funding resources but creates the opportunity to reach more varied audiences and patrons sharing not one but two cultural assets with the Society’s collections and the Town’s unique property.

Although the site presents a picturesque event venue, due to the size, layout and more importantly the location of the building, hosting large functions at this time is not feasible. This plan is respectful of the neighbors, utilizes the existing footprint and incorporates historical assets as a first step in creating a cultural facility in the Town.

Weymouth Historical Society Educational Outreach Program:

The Society’s collections offer first-hand educational resources for teachers, students, and the general public, focusing on Weymouth history from the indigenous people to Weymouth’s 400^th celebration in 2022. At the Emery Estate, the Society can re-establish their educational outreach program and guide teachers and students alike through centuries with the extensive exhibits they have. WHS would finally be in the unique position with a home at the Emery Estate and ample room to display centuries of historic artifacts.

Community Engagement:     Recent Emery Estate Survey

Phase I Scope

Preservation:

• Roof: asbestos roof tile removal/replacement with asphalt shingles
• Fascia board and trim replacement with gutters
• Window abatement & reglaze
• Lead paint abatement of exterior
• Rear canopy repairs (overhang)
• Exterior painting

Funding Opportunities:

1. Destination Development Capital Grant (Massachusetts)
2. Community One Stop Underutilized Properties
3. Community Preservations Funds (Local)
4. Cultural Facilitates Fund (Massachusetts)

Next Steps:

1. Historic Assessment 
2. Historic Preservation Restriction
3. Apply for CPA matching funding
4. Accepting funding awards
   1. Destination Development Capital Grant
   2. Underutilized Properties
   3. CPA
5. Begin work for Phase I
6. Apply for second round of funding for Phase II from:
   1. DDCG
   2. CCF through Historical Society
7. End work for Phase I

Interim Revenues:

Recently several paranormal investigators from varied broadcast shows have reached out to the Town of Weymouth interested in conducting Paranormal Investigative Ghost Tours at the Emery Estate. These groups have a solid track record of generating operational revenue for the properties where they run tours. The tours should generate sufficient income, as shown through a similar program at the Oliver Estate in Middleborough, to support operating costs including utilities, heat, WIFI, and maintenance.

There has also been a resurging interest in photo shoots and small corporate meetings at the house, additional revenue from these event rentals would essentially pay operational cost for the building. Of course, any restoration and upgrades would be funded through grant funding.

The Mayor has remained committed to finding a public use for the building which would also generates a stream of revenue to defer costs of maintaining the building.