Home » News » Politics
Chimney is a symbol of survival in Nashua
|
NASHUA — Former city mayor Jim Donchess is spearheading an initiative to save the iconic Millyard chimney and hopefully preserve the historic structure.
“The Millyard is part of Nashua's history. It is how Nashua started,” said Donchess, a recently elected alderman-at-large. “The chimney has been a very visible symbol of Nashua and the Millyard, and I believe it should be preserved.”
The aging chimney — once about 180-feet high — was shortened by about 15 feet last year because the top was deteriorating. Now, as the city's old Boiler House building around the chimney is being demolished as part of the Broad Street Parkway project, Donchess isn't taking any chances that the chimney could be damaged further.
City officials have informally discussed possibly razing the chimney, relocating it or even reducing its size, but Donchess maintains it should remain intact and continue to serve as a downtown landmark.
Although preliminary plans for the parkway are not in the direct path of the chimney at 90 Pine Street Extension, engineers have recommended shortening the chimney to about 100 or 150-feet because it now may not meet state codes, Donchess said.
There are costs associated with strengthening the chimney, shortening it and even razing it, said Donchess, stressing federal money is available to help with this endeavor.
“We should retain it and do what it takes. I can't conceive of the State Historic Preservation Office in Concord saying, ‘Oh, we should destroy an historic structure,'” Donchess said on Wednesday.
The city has owned the chimney since 1991, meaning its future is with the Board of Aldermen. Donchess has submitted a proposed resolution to his fellow board members asking that the chimney be preserved and either maintained at its current height, or restored to its previous height of 180-feet. Seven other aldermen are co-sponsoring his resolution, which will be reviewed by the Aldermanic Committee on Infrastructure.
Relocating or shortening the historic chimney is “crazy talk,” according to Robin Ann Peters, a local history buff and author of the book, “Nashua, Then and Now.” She described the Millyard chimney as an engineering marvel that has been a city landmark for more than 100 years.
“Since they took the bricks off the top, it now looks incomplete,” said Peters. “If anything should be saved and preserved in Nashua, it should be that chimney. It is fascinating and it is beautiful.”
Historic structures such as the Millyard chimney inspire economic development, and altering it could hurt those chances, argued Peters, adding it is an irreplaceable piece of history.
“Not everyone wants to go to another strip mall. Some people need something more to connect with. This chimney is a landmark for our history, and I believe there is plenty of money for restoration from federal funds,” she said.
The Millyard chimney is part of the system that powered the mills with steam about a century ago. The Millyard — including its chimney — has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places because it dates to 1826.
City officials previously determined that the Boiler House, which surrounds the chimney in the Millyard, could possibly lie in the path of the proposed parkway and will ultimately be removed. Last year, aldermen approved a $1 million contract to demolish the building and remove contamination there, with the intention of keeping the chimney standing.
Donchess said he is optimistic that the symbolic chimney will be saved, and that he will have support from aldermen and representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office.
For the past 40 years there have been various proposals and plans for the future Broad Street Parkway. The city has committed to spend up to $37 million for the construction of the massive project, which is designed to connect Broad Street to the downtown area by allowing motorists to bypass Amherst Street via another crossing of the Nashua River. The hope is that the parkway will attract more business and people to the Millyard Technology Park.
“The Millyard is part of Nashua's history. It is how Nashua started,” said Donchess, a recently elected alderman-at-large. “The chimney has been a very visible symbol of Nashua and the Millyard, and I believe it should be preserved.”
The aging chimney — once about 180-feet high — was shortened by about 15 feet last year because the top was deteriorating. Now, as the city's old Boiler House building around the chimney is being demolished as part of the Broad Street Parkway project, Donchess isn't taking any chances that the chimney could be damaged further.
City officials have informally discussed possibly razing the chimney, relocating it or even reducing its size, but Donchess maintains it should remain intact and continue to serve as a downtown landmark.
Although preliminary plans for the parkway are not in the direct path of the chimney at 90 Pine Street Extension, engineers have recommended shortening the chimney to about 100 or 150-feet because it now may not meet state codes, Donchess said.
There are costs associated with strengthening the chimney, shortening it and even razing it, said Donchess, stressing federal money is available to help with this endeavor.
“We should retain it and do what it takes. I can't conceive of the State Historic Preservation Office in Concord saying, ‘Oh, we should destroy an historic structure,'” Donchess said on Wednesday.
The city has owned the chimney since 1991, meaning its future is with the Board of Aldermen. Donchess has submitted a proposed resolution to his fellow board members asking that the chimney be preserved and either maintained at its current height, or restored to its previous height of 180-feet. Seven other aldermen are co-sponsoring his resolution, which will be reviewed by the Aldermanic Committee on Infrastructure.
Relocating or shortening the historic chimney is “crazy talk,” according to Robin Ann Peters, a local history buff and author of the book, “Nashua, Then and Now.” She described the Millyard chimney as an engineering marvel that has been a city landmark for more than 100 years.
“Since they took the bricks off the top, it now looks incomplete,” said Peters. “If anything should be saved and preserved in Nashua, it should be that chimney. It is fascinating and it is beautiful.”
Historic structures such as the Millyard chimney inspire economic development, and altering it could hurt those chances, argued Peters, adding it is an irreplaceable piece of history.
“Not everyone wants to go to another strip mall. Some people need something more to connect with. This chimney is a landmark for our history, and I believe there is plenty of money for restoration from federal funds,” she said.
The Millyard chimney is part of the system that powered the mills with steam about a century ago. The Millyard — including its chimney — has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places because it dates to 1826.
City officials previously determined that the Boiler House, which surrounds the chimney in the Millyard, could possibly lie in the path of the proposed parkway and will ultimately be removed. Last year, aldermen approved a $1 million contract to demolish the building and remove contamination there, with the intention of keeping the chimney standing.
Donchess said he is optimistic that the symbolic chimney will be saved, and that he will have support from aldermen and representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office.
For the past 40 years there have been various proposals and plans for the future Broad Street Parkway. The city has committed to spend up to $37 million for the construction of the massive project, which is designed to connect Broad Street to the downtown area by allowing motorists to bypass Amherst Street via another crossing of the Nashua River. The hope is that the parkway will attract more business and people to the Millyard Technology Park.