PLUM ISLAND – Despite having the governor, the state Senate minority leader, a state representative and hundreds of passionate volunteers in its corner, The 100-year-old Pink House will be torn down by March 30.
The eagles and other birds that rested on its chimney and the artists who loved to paint and photograph the house standing on the edge of the marsh will watch in horror this month as what’s left of the old house is demolished and hauled away.
In its place, if anything in this period of the federal government downsizing, will be a bench for nature lovers and possibly school students to watch the wildlife that frequent the marsh.
In hindsight, the federal government, which purchased the house in 2011 never really had a plan for it. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (F&WS), purchased The Pink House and its 9.3 acres on Plum Island Turnpike for $375,000, stating it planned to use it as temporary shelter for visiting staff and scientists. That plan never materialized.
Under the headline, Not the News We Hoped to Deliver, the indefatigable Support the Pink House (STPH) organization, thanked the community “for its incredible patience as we all awaited news about the Herculean efforts to save the iconic Pink House. FWS will proceed with demolition before the end of March.
When Gov. Healy stepped in last October to try to find a solution for preserving the Pink House, the greater Newbury and Newburyport community was optimistic that the governor’s clout would succeed when ordinary citizens had not.
But on Friday, the governor issued a news release saying the efforts by her office, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, state Rep. Kristin Kassner and their staffs had failed.
“They hoped to achieve the win for all that has always been possible with The Pink House,” the STPH board wrote. “Rest assured they met with the right people, including decision makers at the highest positions within FWS and the Interior Department.
Along with an anonymous $1 million donation and several new parcels, most abutting refuges the refuge, were offered in exchange for the Pink House.
F&WS declined both the land and the money.
The million-dollar donation included the gift of restoring the Pink House, which would have increased its value to $1.5 million or more.
When the million-dollar donor stepped forward, he offered to restore the house as a gift to FWS, that would have increased the value of the asset to $1.5-2 million… which could have been traded for 3-4x new acreage to conserve. That offer, while we’re sure it was appreciated, was also declined.
F&WS set March 31 as the deadline for resolution, citing the migratory bird period. But birds migrate into June. The F&WS did not grant an extension, even when requested by the elected officials.
Instead, Matt Hillman, manager of the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, hired contractors to tear out wood that was contaminated with asbestos and other toxins.
As a result, the previously enclosed house has gone through the winter with few windows and part of the roof removed, leaving the house open to the element.
One supporter of the Pink House called it “demolition by default.” ♦
