AROUND TOWN: A Walk in the Estate

Easton residents have been enjoying the Gov. Ames Estate

About Around Town: Every week day, we'll provide you with a scene from around Easton. Let us know what you think about the scene in our comments section! Easton resident Julie Halvorsen and her dog Lars were out for a walk Tuesday morning in the Governor Ames Estate. The 36-acre Estate is open to the public after officially being purchased by the Trustees of Reservation over the summer. Easton also contributed to the purchase. Voters approved the use of $500,000 of Community Preservation Act funds for the purchase of the estate's conservation restriction at the 2011 Annual Town Meeting. Signage is now set up across the estate letting residents know that it is open to the public.

• Photos (1)

Easton Officials Discuss Town's Future With Business Community

Town Administrator David Colton joined Selectmen Colleen Corona and Dan Murphy to chat with business owners at Thursday's Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

Easton's business community got a brief look into the future of the Shovel Town Thursday morning at a Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at Queset on the Pond. Board of Selectmen members Colleen Corona and Dan Murphy joined Town Administrator David Colton to discuss the future of the town. Subjects ranged from the Beacon Shovel works Project to the Gov. Ames Estate to town sewage. The 113 historically preserved units at the Shovel Shop currently under construction will be the centerpiece of a transformed downtown, officials said. The project includes a $4.35 million loan to Beacon Communities LLC from Community Preservation Act funds, which was voted by the town in 2010 to save the shops from being transformed into 182 affordable housing units …

• Photos (1)

Selectmen Approve Conservation Restrictions on Gov. Ames Estate, Abutting Lands

The Gov. Ames Estate and portions of the Langwater Estate and historic Ames Gate Lodge will remain undeveloped, if approved by the State.

  The Easton Board of Selectmen unanimously signed off on three restrictions designed to ensure that historic land near the center of town would always remain undeveloped. Pending state approval, a conservation restriction will be placed on the 36-acre Governor Ames Estate. Additionally, there will be a conservation restriction on the abutting 15.8 acres of the Langwater Estate and a Historic Preservation Restriction on the Ames Gate Lodge and the 2.6 acres surrounding it. All three restrictions were approved by Selectmen this week. The Trustees of Reservations, which recently acquired the Gov. Ames Estate, will fund the Langwater Estate conservation restriction. The Gate Lodge historic preservation restriction will be funded by Historic …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Trustees of Reservations Officially Announce Purchase of Gov. Ames Estate

The 36-acre property will be open to the public after input sessions and a planning process.

The following is a press release from the Trustees of Reservation, which officially closed on it's purchase of the Gov. Ames Estate Monday afternoon. The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) announced Monday its purchase of the Governor Ames Estate, a 36-acre historic property in Easton that was once the home of Oliver Ames, who served as Massachusetts’ 35th governor from 1887–1890. The Estate features sweeping lawns in an arboretum-like setting, an elegant 19th century stone stable, an agricultural field, meadows, brook and garden pond – all within walking distance of the North Easton National Historic District.  The property lies directly adjacent to the Easton Historical Society, YMCA, and the popular Easton Children’s Museum. The …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

State Provides $500,000 Grant for Gov. Ames Estate

Easton has secured a total $3 million in state grants for revitalization of downtown.

Trustees of Reservation, which has partnered with the Town of Easton in the purchase of the former Governor Ames Estate on Oliver Street, will receive $500,000 worth of help for the state., Senator Brian A. Joyce told Easton selectmen Monday the town was awarded the money through the state's Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity grant during fiscal year 2013. The money will go towards helping the Trustees of Reservation's purchase of the $4 million 30-acre estate, which is being sold by the Ames family. At Town Meeting last May, the town voted to bond $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to purchase Conservation Restrictions for the land. The remaining $3 million will be raised by anonymous donors to the Trustees. The State's …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Easton Receives $1 Million Grant For Downtown Revitalization

Officials say improvements to Main Street will tie into other area projects like Shovelshop development and a new sewer system.

The town of Easton will benefit from legislation passed last week that included $37.95 million in infrastructure funds for shovel-ready projects - $1 million of which would be dedicated to Easton's downtown. “This kind of investment in our towns and our infrastructure is how we can responsibly move Massachusetts forward economically,” State Senator Brian A. Joyce (D-Milton) said in a statement. “Today is a good day for the residents of Easton.” Town Administrator David Colton said the money would be used for improvements to main street, such as the burrial of wires, improvements to sidewalks and crosswalks, planting trees, and parking improvements. Colton said $75,000 of the town's capital budget, which was approved at Town Meeting last …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Question of the Day

Question of the Day: North Easton Revitalization

What are your thoughts on all of the plans to revitalize North Easton Village?

At Easton Patch, we want to hear from you! We're always striving to generate conversation and foster dialogue in an effort to give all of our users a voice in the community. Beginning in June, we'll be asking Easton Patch readers a different question every weekday at noon. Questions could range from local decisions made by officials, to state issues, to national politics and entertainment. Whatever it is, we want to know what EASTON thinks! To answer, use our comments section below. With a new apartment complex at the sight of Ames Shovel Shops, a new sewer system, possible improvements to Main Street and a open-to-the-public Governor Ames Estate, there are some major efforts to improve the area around North Easton Village. This week, Town…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Gov. Ames Estate Up For Discussion at Town Meeting

Selectmen and Finance Committee members disagreed on whether or not to recommend the article.

The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee were split this week on whether or not to recommend a Town Meeting warrant article that assists in the purchase of the former Governor Oliver Ames Estate on Oliver Street. Trustees of Reservation, a non-profit organization that specializes in purchasing, preserving and caring for land designated for public use is interested in buying the 48-acre land for $4 million from the Ames family. The Trustees are asking for the town to purchase $500,000 in conservation restrictions through Community Preservation Act Funds. "The intent is to prevent any future development on the property," David Ames Jr. said. "I think this is a very good vote because its going to be maintained and open to Easton …

• Photos (1)