OFFICIAL Whalom Park to become Condo's

I didn't submit this to News because, frankly, there wasen't an article yet, but this is a copied and pasted letter I got from Allyson Bowen, the Owner of the site "Save Whalom Park" We all knew it was coming, so don't be too shocked.

Thank you to all those from Lunenburg and the surrounding communities who made phone calls and came out to the Lunenburg Town Meeting last Tuesday night.

Thank you to those from across Massachusetts and around the country who sent your encouragement and support.

Unfortunately, Article 8 - to take the former Whalom Park property by eminent domain - did not pass.

The previous article, Article 7, which was to take just the Whalom lakefront property along Lakefront Road, fell short of the 2/3 majority needed by 38 votes.  It proved to be a red herring and Article 8 was subsequently voted down by larger margin in a voice vote.

John T. Callahan of Global Property Developers Corp out of Bridgewater, MA has all of the permits in place and is set to proceed with a 240 unit condominium development on the 25 acre property.

The Lunenburg Historical Commission has placed a six-month demolition delay on four of the structures on the property – the carousel house, the Lufkin house and two Victorian era cottages.  Unfortunately, a demolition permit was granted for the c. 1905 skating rink which with the rink at Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon, is one of the two oldest in the country.

If you have an interest in any of these structures, please contact Rebecca Lantry, chair of the Lunenburg Historical Commission at mailto: rlantry@lunenburgonline.com, or the Town of Lunenburg at 978-582-4131.

Heres to 108 years of having a Whale of a Time at Whalom Park!  Hold on to all those family photographs and fun memories!

Sincerely,
Allyson Bowen
*** Edited 7/11/2006 3:33:54 AM UTC by john peck***

And since your govt aproved emminent domain for any development that would generate more than the existing resident in tax base.

This is the end.

Hope your home isn't next.

VOTE THE SOB"S OUT! ALL OF EM!

It's really a tragedy. The last thing the world needs is more cheaply built, overpriced, plastic-coated condos. Community gathering places, affordable recreation, and unique and interesting parts of our towns are continually destroyed for short term gain. We're all losers in the end. I'm tired of driving down look-alike highway strips gazing at the same commercial crap you see everywhere. It's really too bad it had to come to this.

It is sad.

I thought the same would happen to CLP, but considering the way most of the cottages look around the park, I don't think it would've been a good investment.

I agree with Chuck: Vote 'em out!

You do know Im talking top to bottom. The only way to send a message is to not elect or re-elect a existing politician. No more lesser of two evils for me as they are all republicrats that go where the money is.

As for Whalom, Sad, very sad. Even if they could have come up with a backer to rebuild, The emminent domain seals the coffin. Im not really sure how they got in the possition it was in of someone else owning or having the rights to the land but Just like Lesourdsville, Im sorry to see another place people can get together and enjoy fall victim to what all it amounts to is money.

Chuck

It sounds like there is some confusion over what happened. In this case, the eminent domain is what would have saved the park. The developer would have been forced to sell the property to the town for use as a park (not necessarily a ride park, at least not in the short term, however). *** Edited 7/11/2006 1:16:03 PM UTC by millrace***

I have heard SUCH great things about Whalom, really disappointed I never got to go. From the outward appearnace, this was Allyson's LAST chance to save her family's park. The fact that she "went down fighting" earns BIG points in my book.

I've made EVEY effort to get to the old amusement parks, and Whalom is "the one that got away". Alas, I found out about Whalom too late... :(

To end on a positive note:
Heres to 108 years of having a Whale of a Time at Whalom Park!
http://www.angelfire.com/nh/whalom/

And just what the world needs, more stupid expensive condos. Ugh, that just irks me.

And then typically, people move into these condos and within months start complaining that there's nothing to do in the area, no recreation, no entertainment, no open space, nothing to look at but other condos and strip malls. Well duh!

The park, as it once was, is gone forever. That's not to say that something won't come from this one day...

What is left of the park today?