Thursday, September 14, 2000 Older Editions

Pulling up stakes at PA

By Rebecca Piro

Pearson Farmhouse may finally have found a new home - just a couple of doors down from where it stands now, on Phillips Academy grounds and in the way of the future hockey rink.

The home just might be moved to 305 South Main St. by David Barrett from Wilmington, who has done similar moving and renovation projects in the past, said Bruce Peschel, PA capital project manager.

The farmhouse, which was built in the 1860s and owned by Joseph Pearson, was acquired by the Academy around 1915, said Barbara Thibault, historical society executive director.

As is the case with several old Andover homes, the farmhouse is not protected by a preservation restriction, nor is it located within a local historical district, said Thibault. Today, the house faces demolition to make way for the new hockey rink, a project PA has been lobbying for since April of 1999, said Peschel.

Because the house lies in the path of the access road and parking lot, PA has said it may be faced with no other option than to tear the house down - unless someone volunteers to take it off the school's hands.

Barrett is one of two parties that have made such an offer, said Peschel. A potential agreement to that would transfer ownership to Barrett's hands includes selling the property for $1, moving the house from PA property and renovating it. Though he would not identify the other party as of yet, Barrett's offer is quite tempting to the school, Peschel added.

"We're pleased, because it's potentially a very good solution to this," said Tana Sherman, director of public information. The school would much rather see the farmhouse moved to a good location than be torn down, she added.

"We're so committed to preservation, we would love to see this house moved down the street," she said.

Barrett's experience in renovating and moving other homes appeals to the Academy, as well as his construction of new buildings around town, Peschel said.

"He's done quite a bit of new building construction around Andover, and he's quite qualified," he said.

The lot at 305 South Main St. is now empty. At one time there stood a small home that burned to the ground in a fire probably around six years ago, Peschel said. But that lot would be a good home for the farmhouse if the deal works out, he said.

The other party's proposal is less appealing than Barrett's, said Peschel, because the individual wishes to move the farmhouse "in excess of five miles" from its present location, which is a difficult undertaking. However, nothing is definite yet, and the Academy has not yet said yes or no to either party, he said.

"We haven't concluded the agreement yet, but we're most intrigued with Mr. Barrett's (proposal)," said Peschel.

Barrett is currently awaiting approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection for a holding tank, which the Board of Health approved Monday night, said Health Director Everett Penney. Barrett received approval from the conservation commission last week as well. If all goes well and a formal agreement is signed between Barrett and the school, Peschel hopes the move could happen as soon as PA has a permit from the Planning Board to proceed with the hockey rink project.