Northampton Historical Commission delays vote on Cooley Dickinson demolition plan
Cooley Dickinson says the 150-year-old building needs $1 million in repairs and still cannot meet medical facility standards, but Historical Commission members want more information before approving demolition.
NORTHAMPTON — The Historical Commission is weighing whether to delay Cooley Dickinson Hospital's request to demolish the Louise Finn house at 1 Denniston Place, a 150-year-old structure that served as the hospital's Center for Midwifery and is listed in the state Register of Historic Places.
The commission held a hearing Monday night on the demolition proposal, with John Atwater, facilities manager at Massachusetts General Hospital (which owns Cooley Dickinson), presenting the hospital's case. The building shows signs of significant structural damage, and the hospital estimates that bringing it up to code would cost approximately $1 million, including a $500,000 foundation repair. Even with those upgrades, Atwater said the structure would not be suitable for patient care because it cannot meet the FGI Guidelines required for healthcare facilities.
The house was dedicated in 2009 to Louise Finn, a midwife who worked for 53 years and advocated for allowing fathers and same-sex parents in the delivery room during an era when that was uncommon practice. Finn's daughter, Jean O'Rourke, spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing, urging preservation of the building and describing her mother's efforts to improve conditions for women and their families during childbirth.
Finn's son-in-law, Michael O'Rourke, also testified in favor of preservation, reading aloud a poem he had written about her. He characterized demolition of the building as treating it as "disposable" and called such action a "disservice to Northampton."
Commission members raised questions about the extent of the building's damage. Commissioner Douglas Thayer noted that foundational issues could range from mild to extreme and said the commission needs more information before deciding whether demolition is necessary. Michael Curtin and other members suggested the structure could potentially be repaired and converted to residential or office use rather than demolished.
Commissioner Dylan Gaffney shared research linking the property's 1850s owner, Albion Peck, to the early abolitionist movement through his involvement with the anti-slavery Free Soil Party.
Under the city's Demolition Review Ordinance, the Historical Commission can delay demolition for up to a year if it determines a building is historically significant or has architectural or cultural merit. The commission voted unanimously to continue the hearing until September 28 and requested that Atwater provide additional details about the house's structural condition.