Field House Still At Risk
The Field House in Weston, Mass.
Credit: Weston Historical Commission
July 9, 2002
Dear Preservation 911,
The Field House in Weston, Mass., the "No-Name Classic at Risk" featured in the Jan/Feb issue of Preservation, is back on the market—as a teardown.
The threatened structure is an early (1934) International Style house built by an American architect four years before Walter Gropius constructed his famous house nearby, in Lincoln. It is significant as one of the first such houses to be designed for an ordinary client rather than for an architect. The Field House has been declared eligible for listing on the National Register.
Designed by Edwin B. Goodell, the property was on the market for several months last year, listed as "an opportunity to renovate or tear down." The Weston Historical Commission imposed a six-month delay on demolition which expired in the fall of 2001. In 2001, the preservation group Historic Massachusetts named the Field House one of the Ten Most Endangered Properties in Massachusetts. The house was withdrawn from the market after a few months and, at the time the Preservation article was written, the owners' plans for it were unknown.
Now the property is back for sale for $1.95 million, this time listed as a 2.4-acre parcel on a scenic road with the "existing house to be torn down." No photo accompanies the listing.
Ironically, unlike most older homes, the 5,000-square-foot Field House is well suited to the lifestyle of a 21st-century family. The core of the home is a 26 x 25 living room with two fireplaces, and six bedrooms are arranged in two wings off the large living room. The "adult" wing features a master bedroom with dressing room, guest room, study, and bath. The "children's" wing has a large play room and several small bedrooms. A second-story "tower" room would make an excellent studio or office, and there is even a maid's room off the kitchen, ideal for an au pair.
There is nothing more that the town can do to prevent demolition. Please help us find a buyer who will appreciate this wonderful home. If you are interested, contact the listing Realtor, Carole Milott of Coldwell Banker Hunneman, at 781-894-5555. The Field House’s listing number is 30621048.
Sincerely,
Judy Markland
Chairman, Weston Historical Commission
E-mail the writer with advice, comments, or commiseration.
Got a 911 in your town? Send us an e-mail.
Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.
The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.
