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Christine Lomuscio's eyes filled with tears as the Weston Board of Selectmen discussed the future of the Lachat house. "It's a concrete symbol of one man's effort," said Lomuscio, a Weston resident. "He's a quintessential example of a self-made man. ... I remember seeing him work around the house. ... It's really a pretty house if you can stop looking at the rotted parts."
At a public hearing Thursday night, multiple residents spoke in favor of preserving parts of the house that may hold historical value. The Lachat Homestead Committee says the house, built in 1770, on Godfrey Road West is deteriorating, said First Selectman Gayle Weinstein. The entrance to the house, which was purchased jointly by the town of Weston and the Nature Conservancy, is blocked by yellow caution tape. The town estimates it needs more than $100,000 to partially renovate the house.
Nicholas Bell, who has lived in Weston since the '60s, said the house's chestnut frame could possibly be reassembled in another location, which he said could cost about $25,000.
"Leon [Lachat] knew the house was in rough shape," said Mark Harper, who had been involved in the original negotiations of the property and knew Lachat well. "He, I don't think, would at all be surprised" if the town were to demolish the house.
The Board of Selectmen did not decide the house's future at Thursday's meeting. It agreed to wait for a third party to come forward to take on the cost of renovating or stabilizing the house. It also agreed to have a survey of the house done to identify what should be salvaged.
Weinstein said money from the endowment fund about $73,000 can be used for the project.
What do you think Weston should do with the Lachat property? Leave a comment below?
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