Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner

First Friday Coffee Hour May 4

Join BHCA Executive Director Patricia Tully and Event Chair Emily Weiskopf at First Friday Coffee Hour May 4 at Au Bon Pain, 209 Cambridge Street, from 8:30 – 9:30 am. “This is a wonderful opportunity to come by yourself or with a friend or neighbor to learn more about all that the civic association is involved in and how you can become part of our team,” said Tully.

This is the last of the season’s Coffee Hours, which will resume in September. It is also the last time it will be hosted by Weiskopf, who will be moving from the neighborhood in a few weeks.

 

Time to spruce up Charles Street

The Community Spring Planting and Cleaning Day on Charles Street will take place on Saturday, May 5th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Sponsored annually by the Joint Charles Street Committee, the community is welcome to participate.

This year the committee will take a slightly different approach, according to Committee Co-Chair Miguel Rosales.  A ‘home base’ with table will be set up near Charles Street Supply at 54 Charles Street, where committee members can meet during the day to hand out supplies and tools, and volunteers can check in, have a cup of coffee and get their assignments.  “We look forward to a fun day on Charles Street and remember that you are welcome to just say hi, work for an hour or stay longer if you are able,” said Rosales. “We are hoping many businesses will participate as well.”

 

Fourth Historic Preservation Roundtable May 9

All neighbors are encouraged to attend the fourth BHCA Historic Preservation Roundtable, which will feature an in-depth look at the restoration of the second Harrison Gray Otis House, located at 85 Mt Vernon Street.

Built in 1800 as the second of three Beacon Hill houses designed for Harrison Gray Otis by Charles Bulfinch, considered by many to be the greatest American architect of the early 19th century, the home represents one of the finest examples of Federal style architecture in America and remains the only freestanding mansion house in Beacon Hill. This project may have been one of the most unique renovations in the neighborhood, and it led to the discovery and restoration of a number of unknown interior features.

The discussion will include before and after photos of the house, including those discovered as part of the archive research on the house. Participants will hear about the particular joys and difficulties of a project of this scale and complexity, the homeowner’s approach to stewardship of such a nationally significant historic resource, and the challenges of balancing historic restoration with the need to adapt a home to modern living.

The presentation will be given by architect Catherine Truman, principal at Catherine Truman Architects (CTA) in Cambridge. Before founding CTA, Truman spent 15 years at Ann Beha Architects at which time she worked on the Harrison Gray Otis House.

Prior to that, she was with Foster and Partners in London, and associated with the Historic American Building Survey and Engineering Record, the Museum of Modern Art and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. She has worked on preservation projects in Croatia, Bosnia, and Turkey.

The Roundtable will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street.

 

Upcoming Meetings

No meetings this week

Upcoming Special Events

Friday, May 4: First Friday Coffee Hour. 8:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m., Au Bon Pain, 209 Cambridge Street. Stop by to enjoy coffee with neighbors at 74 Joy Street – bring a friend.

Monday, May 7: Beacon Hill Meet & Greet. 6 p.m., 75 Chestnut.

Come meet your neighbors, old and new, and enjoy a drink or two.

Free appetizers / cash bar.

Saturday, May 5: Community Spring Planting and Cleaning Day on Charles Street. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Joint Charles Street Committee

Wednesday, May 9: Historic Preservation Roundtable. 6 – 8 p.m., Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street. Speaker: Architect Katherine Truman.

Saturday, May 12: BHCA Cambridge Street Clean Up Day.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sponsored by the BHCA Cambridge Street Committee

Monday, May 21: Beacon Hill Civic Association 96th Annual Meeting & Reception. 6 – 8 p.m., The Union Club, 8 Park Street. The keynote speaker is James F. Seagle, Jr., President of Rogerson Communities, whose talk is entitled ‘Yes, in My Back Yard….’.

Visit the Beacon Hill Civic Association website bhcivic.org and/or call the office (617-227-1922) for more information on how to get involved.

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