| Barbara
January 8, 2009 22:50:43 (EDT) |
McGraw, a lifelong Hudson resident who "knew Mr. (John T.) Benson," the original landowner, and whose Kimball Hill Road home is a short walk from the Benson's property, will formally accept the deed from Lynch, Coutu said. Selectmen Chairman Benjamin Nadeau will hand the governor an oversized cardboard check for $188,000.
The ceremony is not being held at the Benson's property because of winter weather concerns, Coutu said.
The Benson's deed comes with state restrictions on the property, allowing it to be used only for passive recreation, but the transfer of ownership means "we can finally move forward with our plans, and get the volunteers to start creating in there," Jasper said. "It's a project that could take decades to come to full fruition. But the town will now start to see Benson's come alive again."
Jasper foresees a time when the property will again become a town centerpiece, as synonymous with Hudson as it was during its heyday as a regional tourist attraction.
"A centerpiece, certainly, in terms of recreation for people to go and enjoy, and picnic," Jasper added. "Not unlike Greeley Park (in Nashua), only much larger."
In addition to walking trails, Benson's likely usage plans include picnic and grassy play areas, a public ice-skating pond, and a half-shell stage for performing plays or musicals, according to McGraw.
But the town's first order of business after obtaining the deed, Coutu said, will be to patch the roofs of the Hazelton Barn and Train Station on the Benson's property "as soon we possibly can, to avoid any more water seepage and further erosion of those buildings that the state has designated as of historical value."
The town has long set aside $400,000 to redo the roofs of the two buildings at no added cost to taxpayers, Coutu said.
| Barbara
January 8, 2009 22:37:17 (EDT) |
There was a plastic panel put up in front of Collasus because he would spit at people and throw his poop.
One night the police came and knocked on the door and told us to stay inside because they were looking for a guy that had shot some of the baby bear cubs. Why someone would do that I don't know and I don't know if he was ever caught but I had to go the next day to make sure they all weren't dead.
As the years went by I took my children there and was sad at the disrepair the place had fallen into.
About 20 years ago I was driving by and a man was exercising elephants there. We stopped to watch and see what he was doing. He said that he was renting the place from the state for the elephants and that they were staying in the barn. I never knew if they were Queen and the rest but he did say they went to Florida in the winter. He encouraged everyone to talk to the Hudson Selectman to buy the land for a park.
| Cindy Provencher
January 8, 2009 21:18:54 (EDT) |
| webmaster steve
January 8, 2009 13:13:17 (EDT) |
| Jay
January 7, 2009 21:55:25 (EDT) |
| Cindy Provencher
January 6, 2009 21:54:14 (EDT) |
| webmaster steve
January 6, 2009 20:36:06 (EDT) |
| Bruce
January 6, 2009 20:33:50 (EDT) |
| s
January 6, 2009 19:25:29 (EDT) |
| Kathy
January 6, 2009 18:27:43 (EDT) |
| David
January 6, 2009 17:42:49 (EDT) |
| Cindy Provencher
January 6, 2009 14:53:29 (EDT) |
| Jenny (Ellenwood) Conley
December 31, 2008 22:23:30 (EDT) |
| Cindy Provencher
December 31, 2008 20:21:15 (EDT) |
| Jay and Cathy
December 31, 2008 18:12:23 (EDT) |
| Bruce
December 30, 2008 20:27:47 (EDT) |
| Christina and Dave
December 29, 2008 21:48:34 (EDT) |
Does anyone by chance have any pictures of Jim Murray and/or Chet Libby?
| Steve (Webmaster)
December 28, 2008 11:30:01 (EDT) |
| Jenny (Ellenwood) Conley
December 27, 2008 23:28:46 (EDT) |
| Jenny (Ellenwood) Conley
December 27, 2008 22:49:00 (EDT) |