In a week of continuing activity regarding the proposed high speed rail route, the Director of the Florence Griswold Museum, Jeffrey Andersen, and the President of the Board of Trustees of the Museum, Frank (Ted) Hamilton III, sent a letter dated July 15 to Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Program Advisor for the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) expressing their “grave concerns” about recent reports that the proposed high speed train route currently under discussion will pass through Old Lyme. Significantly, 25 members of the board of trustees had met July 14 and unanimously joined the statement of opposition to the FRA.
The letter refers to the NEC Future Preferred Alternative, which is now expected to be announced in mid-August of this year and anticipates “a high-speed rail corridor to come through the historic center of the Town of Old Lyme,” with what Anderson and Hamilton describe as, “devastating consequences to its significant cultural, historic, and environmental resources.”
Noting the addition of the Old Lyme Historic District to The National Register of Historic Places and the designation of the Florence Griswold House and Museum as a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the letter states unequivocally, “The Board of Trustees and leadership of the Museum are concerned that the essential integrity of the Town of Old Lyme and the reputation of this NHL as the Home of American Impressionism will be violated by the actions proposed by the FRA.”
Citing the recent “acquisition of the final parcel of private land that was once a part of Florence Griswold’s historic estate,” Anderson and Hamilton stress, “The unification of the historic site, and the enhancement of the visitor’s experience for the over 70,000 visitors who come here annually, will be forever diminished if this plan is chosen over other alternatives.” They conclude forcefully, “The proposed train route will do untold damage to the setting of this National Historic Landmark and, indeed, the Historic District.”
The authors highlight their solid unity with US Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, US House Representative Courtney, State Senator Formica and State Representative Formica against the proposal and make two requests, first that the Old Saybrook to Kenyon by-pass is removed from consideration in the plan, and second that a public meeting is held in southeast Connecticut so that citizens may ask questions and receive responses.
The full text of the letter is given below:
Dear Ms. Reyes-Alicea:
Twenty-five members of the Board of Trustees of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT met on Thursday, July 14, 2016 to unanimously express their grave concerns regarding recent reports that a Kenyon to Saybrook bypass will be included as part of the NEC Future Preferred Alternative expected to be announced in mid-August 2016. As you know, this plan calls for a high-speed rail corridor to come through the historic center of the Town of Old Lyme, with devastating consequences to its significant cultural, historic, and environmental resources.
In 1971, the Old Lyme Historic District was added to The National Register of Historic Places and, in 1993, the Florence Griswold House and Museum was designated a National Historic Landmark in recognition of its significance for all Americans. The Board of Trustees and leadership of the Museum are concerned that the essential integrity of the Town of Old Lyme and the reputation of this NHL as the Home of American Impressionism will be violated by the actions proposed by the FRA. Ironically, at the very time that the town is facing this threat, the Museum has just completed the acquisition of the final parcel of private land that was once a part of Florence Griswold’s historic estate. The unification of the historic site, and the enhancement of the visitor’s experience for the over 70,000 visitors who come here annually, will be forever diminished if this plan is chosen over other alternatives. The proposed train route will do untold damage to the setting of this National Historic Landmark and, indeed, the Historic District.
Our Board of Trustees stands in unity with our United States senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, with our U.S. House Representative Joe Courtney, and with our State Senator Paul Formica and State Representative Devin Carney in opposition to this plan. Further, we respectfully urge the FRA to take the following actions prior to the announcement of the preferred alternative expected in mid-August:
· Take the Kenyon to Saybrook bypass out of the plan for the Preferred Alternative, both as a concept and as a route on the map.
· Agree to hold a public meeting in Southeastern Connecticut, something that Senator Blumenthal and other elected representatives have urged the FRA to do, so that our citizens are given an opportunity to express their concerns and seek responses to many unanswered questions.
We write this letter in good faith and with the belief that you will take our concerns seriously. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Frank W. Hamilton, III, President
Jeffrey Andersen, Director
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM