As 2018 Begins, The Pink House Cause Continues

The Pink House Steering Committee got back to work after the holiday break,  meeting on February 6, 2018.
Two of the things determined from that meeting have already been accomplished: The first was to do our annual walk through of the house to be sure she remained secure through the winter.  We started this protective action in February/March of both 2016, and did it again in 2017. This year the third annual check up happened on Tuesday March 20.

Pink House Volunteer and Plum Island Resident Bill Barrett, our trusted, HIC/CSL builder, performed the assessment, accompanied by Parker River Wildlife Refuge Manager Bill Peterson. They cover from the cupola on top through the second floor, down the main staircase to the ground floor and through to the basement. They also walk around the house outside, looking for any leaks, foundation cracks, bowed windows, etc..., checking brick and cinder block integrity  and making note of any exposed areas. Then we ask the Refuge to please do the basic things on our list to keep her sound as possible as we work to shepherd her through this very long process to secure her for the community. 

We believe the success of her holding regardless of what it looks like on the outside is due not only to the strength of her bones, but because the community has kept a daily eye on the house. Pink House Volunteers, as well as Bill and David Dempsey, Steering Committee Building and Land Chairman, report if a window breaks or comes loose, vegetation is encroaching, or people trespass. Support the Pink House immediately asks the Refuge to act and we very much appreciate when they do.

Folks ask us all the time why the house isn't able to be refurbished. The Pink House is federally owned, so while we wish we could do more, there are current limits by which we must abide. We would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the good word that her bones are quite sound and she is being regularly checked on and cared for to the extent of our limits, on behalf of the community, as we work behind the scenes. 

Bill Peterson, Manager of Parker River WIldlife Refuge, fulfilling Support The Pink House's request to re-secure a plexiglass window cover that had come loose between storms. Photo by Rochelle Joseph

theThe second item was for Support the Pink House to call another meeting, as we did last Valentines Day 2017, gathering all the people who are invested in finding a solution around one table to discuss the considerable progress we've made and paths to move further forward. That meeting is set for early May and will include The Pink House Steering Committee,  Bill Peterson, Bill Barrett, State Senator and Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, State Senator Kathleen Ives, Morgan Bell, our district's representative from Congressman Moulton's office, representatives from the Town of Newbury, the Greenbelt, and others. 

​We'll report on all the developments right here! 

Please keep coming to this blog for up to date information, or the public meetings we announce on our Facebook pages Save The Pink House Discussion Group and Support the Pink House. 

PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS!! We appreciate that you are interested, and want to photograph and paint the PinkHouse, but do so without going beyond the side of the road. The Pink House is owned by the Parker River Wildlife Refuge and we respect their property. Thank you!