Delayed Again: Lowell Mason House Won't Move Until April

The Lowell Mason Foundation confirmed Wednesday what the Medfield Board of Selectmen announced at its Tuesday meeting: The Lowell Mason House will not be moved until April.

The Foundation released a written statement Wednesday morning, explaining the delay in the move, which was scheduled for Feb. 22.

"The postponement is due to this winter’s extreme snowfall and some additional requirements for the building’s relocation," the statement read. "Delaying the move of this historically significant house, which dates to the 1700’s, allows time for necessary repairs to the house, to permit a smooth transition from the current 25 Adams St. address to its new foundation at 59 Green St."

The Foundation said while a date needs to be confirmed with all utility companies, the move will take place during the week of April school vacation week, which is the week of the 18th.

"It is hoped that milder spring weather will allow for a more pleasant viewing experience," the statement said.

Selectmen Mark Fisher announced the decision at Tuesday's BOS meeting, saying "better weather and wider roads will hopefully make it easier to move."

This is the second delay in two months during the moving process. The historic house was originally to be moved to 59 Green St. on Jan. 20 but utility issues forced the town to push the moving date to Feb. 22 so students would be on vacation and out of school.

"While looking at the wires on North Street that needed to come down so the house may move over them to the new location on Green Street, it was determined that power would need to be cut to the area for a short period of time," Jim Munz, treasurer of Lowell Mason Foundation, told Medfield Patch in January. "Schools located near the move would be affected by the loss of power."

There needs to be time to plan, prepare and coordinate before the house can be transported. Utility companies need time to notify everyone that will be impacted by the temporary loss of power and schools cannot be in session with power out. 

In terms of snow-related issues having an impact on the move, this past weekend volunteers showed up at the Green Street location to remove snow and cleanup the site so work could resume on Monday. Bob Luttman, member of the Lowell Mason Foundation, organized the site cleanup and snow removal efforts, calling on residents to volunteer Saturday and Sunday. There were eleven volunteers on Sunday, including selectmen Osler Peterson and Medfield Chief of Police Bob Meaney Jr., removing snow from the new site's basement. 

Saturday's volunteers moved concrete forms and construction debris and shoveled snow from the edges to the middle of the basement. That snow was then piled into wheelbarrows and hauled out by more volunteers. The process involved "more than just flinging the snow over the top of the foundation," Meaney said.

A photo gallery of the cleanup will appear on Medfield Patch Thursday as part of the new, weekly feature: "View Point."

Lowell Mason, the nationally recognized music educator was born in Medfield in the house being moved and was best known for his songs "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Joy to the World."

For more information or to make a donation to help complete the restoration of the building after move, visit the Lowell Mason Foundation website.