To the Editor:
Methuen is fortunate to have one of the most unique historic properties in the region. But this former Pine Lodge Estate of millionaire Edward F. Searles on Lawrence Street is presently for sale and in danger of being demolished for housing development.
Hidden behind the tall medieval-style granite walls is a magical 19-acre estate featuring an eclectic collection of twelve magnificent and irreplaceable buildings and a variety of other structures built for Searles around the turn of the last century. Many of them were designed by the famous English-Gothic architect Henry Vaughan. On the site are a breathtaking brownstone chapel, a granite chime tower and several large additions to his home built to display his collection of exquisite artwork and pipe organs. Searles spared no expense on his buildings and property, and the quality of the materials and workmanship was and still is second to none.
Searles was without question the most prominent of Methuen’s three Gilded Age philanthropic millionaires and their families who added so much to Methuen’s beautiful historic landscape. For example, the Nevins family left us the spectacular Nevins Memorial Library and Nevins Retirement Home. Charles H. Tenney left his majestic Greycourt Castle (sadly destroyed by arson fire in the 1970’s) and his stone Gatehouse on Pleasant Street.
But it was Searles who left a most incredible legacy of many charming buildings and picturesque granite walls in and around the center of town that identify Methuen as a very special historical community. He once boasted that Methuen was a tourist attraction where people came just to view the buildings and estates. His properties, of course, were prominent features on these tours. People to this day are in awe when driving past his walls and estate on Lawrence Street.
Searles died in 1920. He had no children. He left what was then the 25-acre Pine Lodge estate to his distant cousin, B. Alan Rowland. Unfortunately, the main house was razed around the 1930s, but the rest of the buildings remain today as they were in Searles’ time. Rowland sold the property in 1957 to the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (who founded the now-closed Presentation of Mary Academy). The Sisters have wonderfully maintained the buildings and grounds over the years since, but they now have put the property up for sale.
The Sisters have entertained several offers from developers. These proposals involve building houses and/or apartments on the site. But one disturbing proposal called for razing the historic structures to build several four-story apartment buildings. If this proposal had been accepted, we would have forever lost the heart and soul of Methuen’s history.
Fortunately, Mayor Neil Perry has made it his priority to preserve this property for the future. He has an agreement in place to purchase it for $3.25 million. The property is assessed at over $10 million, so this is really the deal of the century. He has also put together a strategy for funding and reuse of the property. As it stands, if we don’t buy it, developers will be free to do what they want.
Unfortunately, the purchase hit a snag when the city council failed to pass the proposal at their last meeting in August. The item will be brought back for a vote at the Sept. 4 meeting.
You can show your support for preserving this important piece of Methuen’s history by contacting your city councilors and/or attending the Sept. 4 meeting. There is also a petition to Save the Searles on the Methuen Historical Society’s website. Stunning photos of the exterior and interior of the property have been posted on the Methuen History Facebook page.
Kenneth Doherty
Methuen Historical
Society board member
