METHUEN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY

Dear Members of the Methuen Historical Society and friends of Methuen history,
 

We are writing to urge you to take immediate action regarding an important matter that concerns the very heart of our city's heritage—the Searles Estate.

As you may know, the Methuen City Council met on August 5 to vote on whether or not to purchase this historically significant property. The Searles Estate is not only a cornerstone of Methuen’s rich history but also an irreplaceable treasure that must be preserved for future generations.

The decision to purchase and preserve the Searles Estate is crucial. Allowing this property to slip through our fingers would be a tremendous loss to our community. The estate is a testament to our past and a beacon for our future, embodying the spirit and story of Methuen.

We urge each of you to contact our city councilors, Neily Soto and Patricia Valley, to voice your opposition to their vote against the purchase of the Searles Estate. Let them know how vital this property is to our shared heritage and community identity. We understand their concern that not all questions have been answered regarding how the estate will be managed. The City of Methuen has a deadline to purchase the estate at a price far below its assessed value. The city has already procured a grant to investigate a number of options to preserve the estate while making it financially profitable.

 

Methuen has lost major historic landmarks such as the magnificent Tenney Castle and the Washington Memorial due to shortsighted decisions made by past town councils. The Searles Estate must be purchase by the city to preserve this important landmark, for all of our citizens and for those generations that will follow us.

You may reach City Councilor Neily Soto at 978-423-9447 / email and City Councilor Patricia Valley at 978-273-8122
/ email. Your voice can make a significant difference in this pivotal decision. You may also thank Mayor Perry and the councilors who voted in favor of this purchase, City Councilors  DiZoglio, Saffie, Faretra, Marsan. We are grateful for the efforts of Jack Wilson, Esq., Director of Methuen's Office of Economic and Community Development , and the entire staff, who have worked diligently to make this purchase a possibility. Councilors Zanni Pesce and Campagnone were unable to attend the August 5 City Council meeting and Councilor Beauregard abstained due to a potential conflict of interest.

 

Sign the Petition to Show Your Support
Please take a moment to add your name to our online petition to show your support of our city's purchase of this estate.
Click HERE to sign the petition. Thank you for your support!

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For an aerial view of the Searles Estate, click here. 

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Thank you for your dedication to preserving Methuen's history. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
The Board of the Methuen Historical Society

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