METHUEN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Urgent action is requested to support the purchase of the Searles Estate by the City of Methuen
Please Sign the Petition to Show Your Support
Please take a moment to add your name to our petition to show your support of our city's plan to purchase of this estate. Click HERE to sign the petition. Thank you for your support!
Update: August 31, 2024
The fate of the Searles Estate will be determined by our upcoming City Council vote.
Please attend the City Council meeting on
Wednesday, September 4 at 7pm.
Our City Council meeting will be held at Methuen Community TV studios, located at 20 Aegean Drive, Methuen.
Just two councilors have voted NO -- and may choose to do so again. Please contact City Councilors Neily Soto and Patricia Valley to voice your opposition. Encourage them to vote YES to save this precious and irreplaceable part of our city's history, to enrich the quality of life in Methuen, and to increase economic opportunities for all.
Email Nelly Soto | Phone: 978-423-9447
Email Patricia Valley | Phone: 978-273-8122
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT OUR CITY'S WEBSITE
Searles Estate Acquisition and Future Re-Use Strategy
Please take a moment to review our city's detailed goals to preserve the Searles Estate. In addition to the plans, you may view a video of what we stand to lose if the City Council votes no. Click here to learn more.
The Searles estate is being offered to the city at a fraction of its estimated market price. The Searles Estate is an opportunity that we cannot afford to let slip through our fingers. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our city!
Please share the petition post if you can.
Thank you to the thousands of people who have signed our online petition!
Thanks to you and many others who have signed our online petition, we are sending a clear message that the purchase of the Searles Estate is in the best interest of our city. The purchase will protect the estate from private developers and offer all of Methuen's residents a voice in how to make the Searles Estate a great success story for our City. The Searles Estate will be open to all and its art and architectural treasures will remain in Methuen for this and future generations to enjoy.
Many thanks to Mayor Perry, City Council members Faretra, Zanni-Pesce, Marsan, DiZoglio, and Saffie for you support and vision! Councilor Beauregard is unable to vote due to a conflict of interest, but has publicly stated his support. We are hopeful Councilor Campagnone will be able to vote. We are grateful to Jack Wilson, Director of our City's Office of Economic and Community Development and to the entire team for your steadfast support of this project. Thanks to to our State Representative, Ryan Hamilton for his support as well.
We hope you can attend the city council meeting person. If you wish to speak in favor of saving the estate, you may do so by signing up beforehand. We are encouraged by your support. Together, we must save the Searles Estate for our city and for future generations to enjoy!
A private developer could do what they wish with the property, despite the protections and restrictions for properties located in our historic district, including demolition, building private homes, and irrevocably altering the integrity of this precious and historic gem. In addition, the irreplaceable artwork, purchased by Edward Searles, could be removed and sold at auction. The estate and its remaining artwork will remain in Methuen for this and future generations to enjoy.
To download and print an 8.5 x 11 poster, click here.
Please post wherever you can to help get the word out. Thanks!
Enjoy this video highlighting the beauty of the Searles Estate!
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For an aerial view of the Searles Estate, click here.
Thank you for your dedication to preserving Methuen's history. Please contact us if you have any questions.