Clark Tavern Before Selectmen Tonight

John and Michelle Linnert purchased the historic Clark Tavern earlier this year with the hopes of restoring it to a tavern with some sleeping rooms -- much like it was when it served as a watering hole during the Revolutionary War (and George Washington was rumored to have slept there).

The Linnerts hope to run a family-friendly restaurant and function space, as well as five rooms in the Bed & Breakfast area.  

But some of the neighbors -- who have hired a lawyer -- have expressed concern about traffic, lighting, and say a "tavern" with 43 parking spots does not belong in their neighborhood. 

Last month, the Linnerts invited a few people (including the neighbors) into the Clark Tavern to talk about their plans for restoration and improvements. The house is in need of serious repairs, including a roof which is covered with a blue tarp until permits can be secured, but still holds much of its historic elements (including a three-seat-latrine) as you can see in the attached photos. 

In a June edition of the Hometown Weekly, Town Historian and Selectman Richard DeSorgher said that the purchase of the property at 353-355 Main Street (circa 1740) by John and Michelle Linnert is, "clearly a cause of celebration. It is a win-win situation for Medfield" as many were concerned with preserving the property. 

In fact, it was that article that got the Linnerts thinking.

"We became aware of the property from Richard's article in the Hometown Weekly," Michelle Linnert told Patch. "We have an interest in old homes and I had been interested in a longer term goal of owning a B&B and, after visiting the Tavern, we became intrigued with the idea of returning the historic building to its original purpose."

She said, "We thought it would meet some additional needs of the community -- a small inn for visiting guests, a casual restaurant/tavern where you could spend time with friends and family, a location where you could hold small celebrations or meetings -- and it's such an important part of Medfield's rich history."

Since purchasing the property, the Linnerts say they have met many people who are interested in restoring the building back and learning more about its history, and they are excited to get started on the project. 

At a selectmen's meeting last month, DeSorgher praised the Linnerts for their efforts and supported their plans to renovate an historically-significant property that had been vacant for too long. Regarding neighbor concerns, he said, "This is not going to be a 20-something sports bar, this is going to be a family tavern in a historic setting." 

DeSorgher also said that many of the large historic homes on Main Street have been purchased by people who use the property to generate funds to restore and maintain their properties.

"There's no way one person would be able to do the repairs and keep that up," he said. 

The hearing had been postponed while a traffic study was conducted. Those results will be presented to the board at tonight's meeting.