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Date: 9/28/2022
AGAWAM — “Anyone who owns an old home knows it’s constant upkeep and preservation,” said David Cecchi, a member of the board of the historic Captain Charles Leonard House at 663 Main St., Agawam.
The house, which was built in 1805 as a stagecoach inn, later came under the ownership of of Minerva Davis in 1939, who performed restorations on the then 125-year-old building, and opened it as a community house overseen by a board of trustees. It’s since operated as a non-profit institution, acting as a space for events and meetings. The Agawam Lions Club originally met at the Leonard House, for example.
In 1975, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The revenue from renting out its hall is one of the ways in which the house – which also features two apartments on the top floor –has been able to sustain itself for 217 years. But the coronavirus pandemic led to a significant drop in bookings, according to Cecchi, and now the board of the Leonard House plans to seek funding from Agawam’s Community Preservation Act fund in order to perfom some necessary maintenance that would keep the classic example of Federalist architecture from falling into disrepair.
Last year, the Agawam City Council approved $20,000 to hire an architect to to assess what needed to be done to restore the house.
According to a list provided to Reminder Publishing by Christopher Johnson, president of the Captain Charles Leonard House Board, the proposed restoration projects are fairly substantial in scope. Neither Johnson nor Cecchi could provide an estimate of the full cost. Before the architectural study, another board member, Phillip Kimball, estimated the costs would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and neglecting the work would risk the building collapsing into “a rotted pile of wood and a cellar hole.”
Now the proposed list of work includes not just a coat of paint but a new roof, removing an asbestos insulation-wrapped boiler, adding additional insulation in the attic of the house and moisture barriers to the structural walls, replacing the clapboard siding on the face of the house, and replacing the building’s 53 windows with modern insulated double pane glass.
Johnson, who also serves as Agawam City Council president, said he would abstain from voting on any proposed CPA funding projects to avoid a conflict of interest.
In addition to seeking a CPA grant, Cecchi said the house is continuing to run several annual fundraisers, including the Harvest Craft Beer and Wine Tasting on Oct. 7. The tasting event runs 6-9 p.m. at the Leonard House property, with a variety of wines and beers provided by McCarthy’s Liquors and hot and cold hors d’ouvres from Joey’s Deli & Market. Tickets are $45 and available at McCarthy’s Liquors, 430 Main St., Agawam; Johnny Mac Liquors, 1949 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield; Joey’s Deli & Market, 1226 Springfield St., Feeding Hills; or by calling the Captain Charles Leonard House at 786-9421. Attendees must be at least 21 years old.
For more information visit facebook.com/captainleonardhouse.