AFTER BEING THREATENED with a lawsuit, town officials have ceased communication with Lynnfield Historical Society President Ron Sarro and the rest of the nonprofit organization. (File Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — After being threatened with litigation, town officials have ceased communication with the Lynnfield Historical Society.
The latest chapter in the ongoing feud between the town-appointed Historical Commission and the Society has been boiling over since a contentious and chaotic Commission meeting in April. Historical Society President Ron Sarro, Society Treasurer Bob Gillon and the 10 other Society members in attendance accused the Historical Commission of stealing the nonprofit organization’s property.
While Historical Commission Chairman Kirk Mansfield repeatedly stated during the April meeting that the Society needed to show proof of evidence of the disputed items to Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin and Town Counsel Tom Mullen, the Society accused Mansfield and the rest of the Historical Commission of stealing the property. Sarro maintained that the Society had photographic evidence of the disputed items.
The disputed items the Society is contesting are a series of framed photographs, a dollhouse, a tea set, historic furniture belonging to the Pope-Richard family and unidentified “missing items.”
Mullen noted in a June 26 letter sent to Sarro that he was “informed that the Society has threatened legal action against the Commission.”
“I must insist, given that the threat has been made, that you and your fellow Society members desist from any personal communication with town officials concerning disputes between the Society and the Commission, and instead channel all such communications through me,” Mullen wrote.
The Villager asked Sarro: “What is the Society’s position that town officials ceased all communication with Society officials/members, with the exception of Town Counsel Tom Mullen?”
Sarro emailed the Villager the following statement:
“We think it’s wonderful that someone, anyone, from the town will talk to us,” Sarro wrote. “It’s pretty hard to negotiate when they won’t let you speak or tell you where they are holding our property.”
Mullen stated in the letter that, “There are receipts evidencing that both the Commission and the Society paid a professional photographic vendor…for a full set of framed historical photographs.”
“The Commission has located 38 such pieces, all of which are currently stored at the Town Hall,” Mullen wrote. “My client proposes to allow the Society to select and take any 23 of them, leaving the Commission in possession of the remaining 15, on the condition that each party shall be free to order additional prints of any such photographs from the said vendor at such party’s cost and display them without crediting the other.”
Curtin informed the Villager that the town is “still working on” returning the Society’s photographs to them.
The Historical Commission voted during a late June meeting held on Zoom teleconference to purchase seven photographs with the remaining $562.80 in the fiscal year 2023 operating budget. The new photographs will be replacing the ones that will be given to the Society.
Mansfield said the new photographs, along with the existing ones that will remain in the Commission’s possession, will be put on display inside the Meeting House.
“They are very cool,” said Mansfield about the framed photographs. “They range from the 1800s up until the 1970s and 1980s. They really tell a good story about the town.”
Mullen also said, “The Commission is willing to give the dollhouse and all related furnishings to the Society.” Dolan told the Villager the dollhouse and its furnishings were returned to the Society.
Additionally, Mullen stated that the Society claimed that antique furniture owned by the late Edie Richard that is being stored at the Pope-Richard Lynnfield Historical Center was the nonprofit organization’s property.
“Certain antique furniture belonging to the Pope-Richard family is in the custody of the Commission, which is holding the same at the express request of the family,” Mullen wrote. “I understand that the Society asserts some claim of ownership. If the Society has any documentary proof of ownership, my clients and I would be pleased to review it. So far, we have seen none.”
Karen Nascembeni, who is the widow of late Historical Commission member Steven Richard, informed the Villager in an interview that her family wants the antique furniture to remain in the town’s possession.
“My mother-in-law, Edie Pope Richard, was one of the most selfless public servants in the history of the town of Lynnfield,” said Nascembeni. “She worked tirelessly for the Lynnfield Historical Commission, Lynnfield Historical Society, Centre Club, Centre Congregational Church, chaired Lynnfield reunions and more. Edie was raised on the Pope Farm, which was located on the site of the Summer Street School. When the property was razed, Edie ultimately wanted a few pieces of furniture left to the town for safekeeping. She felt strongly that, as they came out of a Lynnfield historic property, they should remain here as a reminder of the town’s farming roots.
“After the tragic passing of my late husband, Steven Richard, and father-in-law, Earl Richard, the good people of this fine town voted to rename the Historical Center the Pope-Richard Lynnfield Historical Center,” Nascembeni continued. “This decision was made in honor of our family’s multigenerational devotion to preserving our town’s history. There is no better place for our family’s pieces to reside than in the Pope-Richard Lynnfield Historical Center. Additionally, as our family makes decisions about donating other artifacts from the Pope Farm, they will be stewarded through the newly formed Historic Lynnfield, Inc., with specific stipulations that they remain in the town’s possession. The town is who our donations have been and will always be intended for.”
The Villager asked Sarro: “Why is the Historical Society pursuing the Pope-Richard family’s antique furniture and not respecting the family’s wishes that the furniture remain in the Historical Commission’s custody? What does the Society want to do with the furniture?”
Sarro emailed the Villager the following statement:
“Edie Richard donated that property to the Society, and we would be remiss if we did not honor her donation,” Sarro stated. “But we will adhere to Doreen Richard’s wishes by putting it on permanent loan to the town for display in the Pope-Richard (Lynnfield) Historical Center. The town could also give us back our Country Store fundraiser.”
Mullen wrote that the tea set that the Society maintains belongs to them actually belongs to the Centre Club.
“Any claim of ownership should be addressed to that entity,” Mullen stated.
Mullen also noted that the Society claims the town is in possession of “missing items.”
“The Society has demanded the production of various pieces of tangible personal property, which the Commission cannot find,” Mullen wrote. “The Society has already had ample opportunity to examine the full inventory of items in the Commission’s possession and has removed many pieces. If some are now missing, my client can do nothing about it other than offer to produce them to the Society if ever located.”
Mullen said in an interview with the Villager that he hopes the historical items dispute does not end up in court.
“I am hoping the controversy dies a natural death to calm things down,” said Mullen.
After the Villager sent Sarro the two questions about the historical items dispute, he requested to sit down with the newspaper for an “an extended interview.”
“Come and listen to the full truth, then decide,” Sarro wrote.
The Villager was forced to decline the request due to family and work commitments.
“I don’t understand how you could do a fair piece without speaking to both sides,” Sarro wrote in response. “I’m sure you’ve talked to Karen or Kirk. I don’t like giving statements without having a chance to speak with you, but against my better judgment, I will. Otherwise, we’ll be accused of refusing to comment. Please make note in your article that I offered myself for an interview and that you expect to accommodate me. And please use my quotes in full.”