Controversy between Two Local Groups - February 1993

Entrance to Point of Rocks

June 1893. Courtesy Medford Brooks Estate Land Trust

The pace and complexity of events surrounding the Brooks Estate increased substantially subsequent to the creation of the Brooks Estate Preservation Association in 1992. Although the focus has generally moved toward protection of the property as historic and natural open space, the story has taken many twists and now turns up to the present. As noted earlier, the crux of the controversy has been the relationship between the historic Brooks Estate and the Oak Grove Cemetery. Although the Cemetery is a municipal agency, its Board of Trustees has taken a rather independent (some would say "road blocking") stance all along (Tom Lincoln 1996).

On February 18, 1993, the Mayor announced that a tentative agreement on the future use of the Estate had been reached between the Cemetery Board of Trustees and the Historical Commission. Under this scheme, the Cemetery would retain 15 acres as requested for burial purposes. The Medford Historical Society would enter into a lease with the City of Medford for control of the Mansion, Carriage House and the 2.2 acres of land immediately surrounding the structures. A feasibility study for the reuse of the property would be undertaken which would include alternative uses consistent with the goal of restoring and preserving the rest of the Estate.

Shortly afterwards Child Associates, Inc., was awarded the contract to prepare a Land Use Master Plan Report on the Brooks Estates in Medford.

The initial contract for the report was $15,000 funded with federal monies from the Community Development Block Grant. (Brooks Estates Master Plan, 1995, September 14). To date $71,230.88 has been paid to Child Associates for the completion of the original comprehensive study. The report took over 18 months to complete and cost residents an additional $60,000 (Council Resolution #95-754 - Popp 7/7/95). As the Child Study dragged on, Brooks Estate Preservation Association decided to undertake its own report. In March, 1994, Brooks Estate Preservation Association announced the imminent arrival of its "Community Proposal for the Brooks Estate." This 32-page study is a succinct and thorough review of the Estate's history, current condition and future potential, as well as a game plan for permanent preservation of the property. It was produced at no cost to the Medford taxpayers.

Before the Brooks Estate Preservation Association could unveil its study, Child Associates sprang into action early in April, 1994. They presented preliminary conclusions at a press conference at Medford City Hall. This included virtually all of the recommendations found in its final report completed in June 1995 (Tom Lincoln, 1994).

The report addressed the City's four primary questions: 1) preservation of the historic estate, including the Shepherd Brooks Mansion and Carriage House; 2) creation of recreational open space around Brooks Pond; 3) development of a golf course; and development of a parcel of 15 acres for new cemetery interment to meet the growth requirements of the cemetery and to provide sources for long-term maintenance and management of the property.

In tandem with these four questions, the Child Report made the following recommendations and reached these conclusions: 1) that a permanent conservation and preservation restriction be put on the Brooks Estate and the buildings renovated as appropriate; 2) that the entire surrounding wetlands of Brooks Pond be preserved in their natural state; 3) that a golf course was not feasible and 4) that 6.5 acres at the Grove Street side of the property be reserved for future Cemetery expansion. Child was also asked to discuss the feasibility of re-use of the Mansion and Carriage House as a Civil War Museum and function facility. A very rough estimate of costs was given in this regard.

The Report also contains detailed information on the topography, vegetation, history, present uses, and conditions of the Brooks Estate. Finally, it included a full survey of the property (Child Report, 1995).

To a large extent, the Child Report has framed the ongoing debate about the future of the Brooks Estate. In particular, it has set the stage for the actions of the Medford City Council, which under the City's Charter has power over the use and disposition of municipal property.

Prior to the release of the final Child Report, the public debate over the Brooks Estate continued at a furious level. As a major party, the Oak Grove Cemetery Board of Trustees has been an active player.

On April 29, 1994, Richard Beston, Superintendent of the Cemetery Department, issued a press release pertaining to the Brooks Estate preliminary Child Report. Its title was "No more Sales of Graves at Oak Grove Cemetery after the Year 2000." Mr. Beston asserted that Child Associates had been working with the Brook Estate Preservation Association and the Medford Historical Society over the past year but had never once sat down with the Cemetery Board or the Superintendent of the Cemetery to discuss any new findings or additional burial spaces.

In his statement Mr. Beston noted that there are more than 90 acres of park land plus in Medford and that the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) controls one third of the city's area as open space recreation. He calculated that 50 plus acres of the Estate would remain for open recreation if fifteen acres were given for additional cemetery space. Also included in his press release was a price listing of three cemeteries outside of Medford. All of those that were chosen were priced higher than Oak Grove Cemetery. He also stated that the city of Medford would lose approximately "Twenty Million Dollars" in revenue, if they were not allowed to use the fifteen acres. He said the fifteen acres for Cemetery needs were not unreasonable; most importantly, the Cemetery Board already controls it.

In addition, some residents whose families have been buried at Oak Grove voiced their opposition against saving the Brooks Estate for open space recreation. They wanted the opportunity to have themselves and future generations buried at the same cemetery.

Opposition by the Cemetery Board continued into 1995 when Beston sent a letter to Mayor McGlynn noting that the Cemetery Board's position had not changed in the last two years. According to Beston, the Board's "primary concern and only concern is to all of the citizens of Medford that a final resting place is available." He also noted that the Cemetery Board is confronted with "special interest groups" who want to dictate how Cemetery land is to be used.

On June 20, 1995, Charles Marelli, Chairman of the Cemetery Board of Trustees, sent a letter to the Medford City Council stating that the Child Report "does not take into consideration the needs of the community and totally ignores its citizenry." Mr. Marelli also did not agree with the Child Report's allocation of only 6.5 acres of land for burial, instead of the 15 acres that the cemetery board had wanted.

The Brooks Estate Preservation Association supported the Child Report in numerous statements, noting that it protected a larger portion of acreage in the Brooks Estate for passive recreation, while still accommodating future cemetery expansion.

From the bachelors thesis: Case Study of the Brooks Estate, by Linda M. Penta. American Studies Program, Leslie College