Evelyn Louise WOLSCHENDORF (WALDORF)
2009



Robbins Pond development in East Bridgewater comes closer to approval
Historic artifacts at Robbins Pond subdivision site slowed developers

By Paula Vogler
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT
Posted Dec 08, 2009

EAST BRIDGEWATER —
Plans for a 25-home cluster subdivision at Robbins Pond in East Bridgewater are moving forward, with a vote by the Planning Board expected soon.
The cluster development means the lot sizes would be smaller than typically required, but civil engineer Michael Perrault of P.M.P. Associates said the development will have more open space than most other subdivisions.
Each homeowner in the development would own a share of the open space and would become a member of the subdivision association with one vote in association decisions.
“The open space does not mean it’s available to the public. It’s privately owned,” Planning Board member Bernard Smith said.
A developer of the site had previously set plans in motion for the project before Alan Leveille of Public Archaeology Laboratory nominated two sites on the land for consideration to be listed on the National Historic Register because of historical artifacts he found there.
While the original developer pulled out two years ago, the Full Gospel Tabernacle of Brockton which owns the land through a bequest by former resident Evelyn Wolschendorf and the Bank of America, which administers her estate, moved forward with design plans.
Those plans, Perrault said, include preserving the two areas Leveille recommended for preservation and incorporating the recommendations of Edward Bell, senior archaeologist from the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
The plans would also include a preservation easement as requested by the MHC.
Buffers will surround the two historic sites, while a 100-foot-buffer will exist around the pond because fresh water mussels and blue damsel flies, both endangered species, were discovered in the area.
Perrault said there would be an archaeological representative on the site during the excavation process to monitor the work on all undisturbed areas.
While no burial grounds have been discovered in Leveille’s archaeological dig, all work would stop immediately if the excavation uncovers graves.
“It is not the intent of the bank or the church to be the developers of this property,” Perrault said. “They will provide a marketable property and sell it to a developer.”
Whoever buys the development must follow the conditions contained in the subdivision plans, according to Planning Board Chairman Roy Gardner.
Gardner also said it is his understanding the board did not technically have the authority to put the restrictions on the plans that they are requesting.
“The attorney has indicated a willingness, on behalf of the church and bank, to put that forward on the plan. We’ll take him at his word,” Gardner said. “We’d like to see that preservation document before we vote.”

“The development engineers worked quite closely with the town engineers through this process,” said town engineer John Delano. “The plans show it’s a very well laid out and planned development.”
The land, formerly owned by Wolschendorf, was once used as an amusement park complete with a skating pond and carousel, and then as campgrounds for some time.

Leveille’s dig turned up 362 pieces of cultural material on the Pond Street site while 416 pieces were located closer to the pond at the Robbins Pond site — representing what he said were most likely families of American Indians living in the Robbins Pond area rather than just hunting parties.

“There are a number of people in town who think the property is historically significant,” Gardner said. “I don’t disagree with that.”
Gardner said the Robbins Pond development would be listed at the bottom of the Planning Board agendas under pending open items. There is no definite date for a vote.

Read more: www.enterprisenews.com/ news/ x29009821/ Robbins-Pond-development-in-East-Bridgewater -comes-closer-to-approval#ixzz2LCq1KPlJ



Learn more about the life of flag female ancestor  Evelyn Louise WOLSCHENDORF (WALDORF).

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