The Catalyst for Today's Situation: the 1992 Monopole Proposal

Back of Shepherd Brooks house on Acorn Hill, West Medford

October, 1885. By Sarah L. Brooks. Courtesy Medford Brooks Estate Land Trust

In April 1992 the Mayor of Medford joined the fray. He proposed that the area near the historic Brooks Mansion be used as a monopole site for the Cellular One Company. A monopole is a single mast antenna with a height of 100-120 feet. The Mayor supported this proposal because it would help bring revenues into the city. Many citizens voiced their opposition to the mayor. Based on this community input, as well as City Council opposition, the proposal failed. The foresight and subsequent actions of the Medford City Council prevented a great future mishap from befalling this historical property (Council Resolution, 92-419A, 1992, May 8).

The monopole controversy led directly to the creation of one of the primary moving forces in the whole story - the Brooks Estate Preservation Association (BEPA) - founded by Rob Ciampa, a local resident, in September, 1992. The Brooks Estate Preservation Association is an independent non-profit organization.

Since 1993 the organization has been spearheaded by Thomas Lincoln, its current president. On November 16, 1993, the Association adopted By-laws and Articles of Organization and elected Officers and a Board of Directors. The organization is now fully incorporated as a 510 (c) (3) nonprofit (Tom Lincoln, 1994).

Among the group of people who joined the organization was Shepherd Brooks II, the grandson of the original owner of the Shepherd Brooks Estate (Smith, M. 1992,September,16).

To date, over 500 citizens have become members of the Brooks Estate Preservation Association and the group has many other supporters.

Since 1993 the association has conducted or co-sponsored five volunteer cleanups of the Brooks Estate including a cleanup in November, 1994, that concentrated specifically on Brooks Pond. Some 65 tons of accumulated trash and debris have been removed from the Estate and the Pond.

The Brooks Estate Preservation Association organizes other on-site activities at the property, conducts guided walks, publishes a quarterly newsletter and provides a walking map of the Brooks Estate. In 1996 the Brooks Estate Preservation Association began restoration work of the pond-side areas and selected parts of the trails and woodlands. The Estate now looks better than it has for many years.

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