To our dear Pink House community,

We want to thank everyone for your incredible patience as we all awaited news.

Governor Healey and her staff, Senator Tarr, and Rep Kassner worked diligently since the Governor stepped in to stop the demolition on 10/30. They hoped to achieve the win for all that has always been possible with The Pink House.

Rest assured they met with the right people, including decision makers at the highest positions within FWS and the DOI. Several prime new parcels of acreage, most abutting refuges Matt Hillman manages were offered, along with the former ones Support the Pink House submitted, by the Governor’s office. All were denied.
After all of that work, the only option FWS would allow was no different than what they offered for the auction -to move the house to another location within 90 days, a crippling time frame.

We are all incredibly disappointed at the absolute waste on FWS part of an incredible opportunity to swap this one acre for up to 400+ new acres of land to conserve, and fulfill the deal they came to us with saying land swap would be so beneficial to their mission.

The donors intention was to restore the house in place, aligning with the public’s desire, which also formed STPH’s mission. However, when faced with the prospect of The Pink House being gone forever - or moving it to a similar location, specifically within the vista - we all decided to at least explore the option.
STPH and the donor worked together all through the holidays, consulting experts and service providers. Ultimately the hurdles proved untenable, and what might work simply needed more time for proper due diligence.

FWS cited March 31 as an absolute deadline citing the Migratory Bird period. That ends in June, which, Matt Hillman said at a December meeting, is why they planned the auction for July. They could have easily granted the extension so the proper due diligence could be done. The elected officials and the angel donor asked them repeatedly to extend the deadline the few months till June. FWS refused.

Land was extremely limited, and initial outreach was discouraging/wasn’t fruitful. A consequence of moving PH to purchased land is that it would exhaust the million dollars, leaving a boarded up house on pilings without the funds to restore it – a result far from what we were all working to achieve. Senator Tarr sought a nonprofit end user, and while discussions were had with two promising groups, again, their due diligence would not be accomplished within the time frame FWS set.

Moving The Pink House it would also affect the perpetual preservation restriction we worked so hard to achieve to keep the house’s signature silhouette, size, color and prevent it from being demolished. Efforts to extend the time just three months - past the Migratory Bird season, was repeatedly requesteD to no avail.

It’s really disappointing to leave opportunities worthy of exploration unfulfilled, due to the time limits FWS imposed.

We are extremely grateful to Governor Healey, Senator Tarr, Rep Kassner and their staffs who, seeing the incredible value The Pink House brings to the State and this region, lent their substantial powers to this effort.

We all should be proud of the efforts put forth. You called and emailed FWS and the federally elected officials, signed petitions and cards, came to rallies, donated, came to meetings, passionately commented across social media, shared the word, wrote letters to the editor, commented on media postings anywhere you found them, came out to visit, photograph, and paint the house in all seasons, under the moon, the milky way, the northern lights, sunrises and sunsets.

Our work, and the many generous souls who helped us along the way, have allowed The Pink House to remain in its rightful home for nearly a decade longer that it would have, if FWS had not been stopped.

It is hard to effectively say thank you to our donor’s unbelievably generous offer. Or to our Governor for stepping in to stop the demolition, and, together with her impressive, talented staff, took this to a higher level. To Senator Tarr for his many efforts on this project throughout the years and for taking a stand for this region, joined by Rep Kassner.

It should not go unnoticed, that due to these people’s actions, The Pink House did enter its hundredth year as our icon. We are all so grateful for that alone.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
 
Governor Healey, Leader Tarr, Representative Kassner, Support The Pink House Inc. Respond to U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Decision to Remove The Pink House 


BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Representative Kristin Kassner and Support The Pink House’s President Alison Odle issued the following statements in response to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)’s decision to demolish the building known as “The Pink House” at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in March while further options were explored. FWS had previously agreed to pause demolition after Governor Healey intervened and requested additional conversations about potential paths to save the beloved structure. Despite extensive negotiations, FWS has notified the state that it will be moving forward with demolition in the coming weeks. 


“The Pink House is a beloved fixture on Plum Island and a special part of the history, culture and fabric of greater Newbury and Newburyport. We are deeply grateful for all of the residents, including artists, who have made their voices heard about how meaningful the Pink House is to them and their communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Last fall, we stepped in on behalf of community members, businesses and our tourism industry to try to preserve this important economic driver and landmark. With the partnership of Leader Bruce Tarr and State Representative Kristin Kassner, we worked diligently toward a solution with FWS but unfortunately they are moving forward with the demolition. Though the house will be removed, we remain committed to working together to evaluate additional steps we can take to ensure that the legacy of the Pink House will endure.” 
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"While I am both frustrated and disappointed that we couldn't find a way to save this iconic structure that is important in so many ways, I am deeply appreciative to everyone who worked tirelessly to achieve the common goal of preserving this structure,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “Governor Healey, Support the Pink House, local officials in Newbury, Salisbury, Newburyport and beyond, Representative Kassner, our federal legislative colleagues and many others gave the task of preserving the house the type of attention, focus, and perseverance it deserved. Now that remarkable effort will be part of the Pink House legacy that holds special meaning for the region and our Commonwealth.” 


“The Pink House is an iconic part of the Plum Island landscape that has inspired artists, attracted tourists, and warmed the hearts of residents for almost a century," said Representative Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton). “I want to thank Governor Healey and her team, Senator Tarr, the hard work of Support the Pink House, the generosity of the anonymous donor, and so many others for this valiant final effort to preserve this cherished landmark. I wish we had been able to prevail, but there were too many obstacles to overcome.” 


“Support The Pink House did everything in our power to make this work,” said Support The Pink House’s President Alison Odle. “Our mission was formed by the people– to facilitate a solution to save and restore The Pink House in place, in perpetuity. All deeply appreciate the tremendous response to them by the efforts of Governor Healey, her office, Senator Tarr and Rep Kassner. After considering even a last-ditch effort of moving the house within the vista, we join all who will be completely devastated by the imminent loss of this treasured landmark and what it could have become.” ​

​The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) plan to demolish Plum Islands' beloved Pink House (PH) effectively means losing $1,400,000 to preserve 1 residential acre of land on a turnpike while forever making themselves mistrusted by the community they rely on for support and should be serving. Despite their claims in a flawed Environmental Assessment (EA), this is not in the best interest of USFWS’s mission to “work with others to protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.
 
The most recent Yellow Book appraisal assessed the value of the Pink House and the one-acre lot it sits on at $425,000. FWS’s EA, a study upon which they based their justification to remove TPH, neglected to factor in that the Pink House is a grandfathered house on a non-buildable lot. This means the lot will soon become non-buildable if the house is removed, causing the lot’s value to plummet by approximately $400,000. In addition, an anonymous donor has come forward offering to donate $1,000,000 to restore the house in place for FWS or a nonprofit’s use and serve as housing for visiting scientists, academics, and others focused on protecting the Great Marsh and better understanding the impacts climate change, invasive species, and various types of pollution are having on this ecologically critical resource.
 
FWS could also enable universities, nonprofits, and organizations like the Audubon to utilize the Pink House as headquarters for environmental education initiatives. Finally, once restored the Pink House and its 1 acre would become a $1,400,000+ asset FWS could use to exchange for more ecologically important land if and when the opportunity emerges. 
FWS’s only justification for demolishing The Pink House is that they conducted an Environmental Assessment in order to do so, and they are following its conclusions. Yet the EA has many flaws to the uneducated eye. One glaring point is that it does not recognize the Pink House as sitting on a non-buildable lot and completely disregards the new development of a $1,000,000 donation to restore the house. 
 
This does not include approximately $200K for theEnvironmental Assessment, the failed PH auction, the Remediation and demolition contracts, misc like no trespassing signs, and staff time (more of which was spent to work toward house removal that it would be to have done a land swap).
 
The USFW’s Environmental Assessment also vastly underestimates the lasting loss of community trust and support demolishing their beloved Pink House will effect for USFWS.

This loss will be greatly magnified by the community’s realization that demolishing the house means destroying $400,000 in government assets and the loss of a $1,000,000 donation to rebuild the house. 78% of those who responded to the EA want the Pink House saved, as do thousands of those who have signed Support The Pink House petitions as well as our over 8,000 social media friends. Supporters also include Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy, Senator Bruce Tarr, Representative Kristin Kassner, and virtually every prominent North Shore leader and organization - from the North Shore Tourist Bureau and Essex National Heritage and the Newburyport Preservation Trust, to Newburyport’s Mayor Reardon and Chamber of Commerce, to the governing bodies of Salisbury, Newburyport, Amesbury, and Newbury, many others. 
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The USFWS should reconsider its decision to Rebuilding the Pink House at no cost to the taxpayers to preserve $400,000 in government assets and increase the value of the lot by $1,000,000. This will also restore trust and support for the USFWS and avoid a public relations catastrophe.
 
Rather it will forever restore the community’s trust and support for the USFWS as well as the admiration of tourists, photographers, painters, and the other craftspeople who are inspired by The Pink House and have created a cottage industry focused on it.

By Jeff Ackley

When Governor Healey stepped in to stop The Pink House from imminent demolition,  the next day an article came out in the State House news with fairly shocking claims to those of us in the know. 

On February 14, 2025 STPH had a licensed contractor do a house health check and full walk through. He confirmed the house is in remarkably solid shape, and can be fully restored. This after being fully exposed over 3 mo. to multiple heavy rains, high winds, weeks of freezing temps.  See attached letter from Ted Caswell.

This is in direct contrast to FWS quotes from the 10/31/24 Drysdale article widely shared by the Boston Globe, the Daily News, etc quoting Matt Hillman, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Manager.  “What we’re left with is a shell of a structure. It’s dangerous for me and my team to be out there near it,” Hillman said. “The dilapidated structure is a safety hazard.”

“But we are very concerned about the condition of this property. We don’t know how long we can hold,” he said.

The roof referred to in the article as collapsed was not even part of the house, but a flimsy storage shed in back, that would have been removed in restoration anyway. Very misleading - yet most of the public could not know this. And it was unfortunately spread from the State House News to the Boston Globe to the Daily News without calling us for comment.  

1. This confirms the 11/2023 house health letter from our Building Advisor, who performed checks multiple times per year since 2/5/2016. See his letter attached, which also appeared as a pg. 3 half page ad in the Daily News, and got the highest open rate on our blog. 
2. Some involved in the remediation told us the levels were not as represented to the public. We were given the asbestos report by the prior FWS manager and it seemed so from what we had.

Both are in direct contrast to how the house is being portrayed to the public and the press. 

We see a few comments on random social media posts asking why Support the Pink House didn't bid on The Pink House if it were offered for only $3000. Others ask why it was not just relocated.  Here are the facts.

Support the Pink House Inc (STPH) formed in answer to tens of thousands of this regions’ businesses, artists, preservationists, historians, related organizations, residents and visitors who would like to see the iconic The Pink House stay standing and be restored IN place.
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Your mission became our mission.

But STPH's role has always been as a facilitator of parties and agreements to achieve that mission, but never to own or restore it ourselves.

In kind, FWS Realty Chiefs never asked that the house be moved as an option because the value of trading this one acre to gain the US FWS up to 400+ acres of new, far more beneficial land was so great. And our argument is that it’s still possible, and should still happen for this to succeed as the win for all STPH has always worked so hard for -- The public, FWS, and the elected officials who helped. Businesses, artists, and visitors. Local culture, history, and economy. Generations to come.

Helping FWS conserve more land has always been an added motivation for us. We continue to ask that FWS to do a sincere and comprehensive search nation-wide so that fantastic conservation outcome can happen.
 
Though it was not our job to bring land to FWS, since 2016, STPH looked for land to contribute to that win for all, talking to land trust directors and board presidents, local owners, adjacent town planners, builders, elected officials, and refuge managers, scouring maps without resources or specific expertise. And once FWS reconfigured criteria released late last year, we found several parcels that would fit for the house to remain in place with a land trade. 100% were declined by FWS. 

Though the setting is as iconic as The Pink House itself, and why people don't want to see it moved, we of course did a deep dive into the logistics and costs to move it so we could be prepared with facts ourselves, or if someone stepped forward. Here's what we learned: 
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After speaking to expert movers, foundation builders, 3 independent building advisors, wetland attorneys, NBPT Sewer, NBPT Water, Newbury’s Planner and building Inspector, and National Grid, among others, relocating TPH seemed limited by:

• MOVING WHOLE: The Pink House is not a candidate to be cut apart and reassembled.
• DISTANCE ENCUMBERED: It should travel no further than .50 mile, though we pressed for a yes to a mile.
• CAN’T GO OVER PI BRIDGE: Concerns it was too wide and tall (especially once on a flatbed) for PI Pike. Had the mover measure the house – he determined it would just fit on the PI Pike width, but would likely not be able to go over the Plum Island bridge. We considered one parcel available on Plum Island anyway.
• PERPETUAL PRESERVATION RESTRICTION LOST: The perpetual PR would not go with TPH as it attaches to the land deed not the structure. We no longer have restoration as The Pink House, which preservationists and Mass Historic worked on for 2 years with us, with partial funding from the Newburyport Preservation Trust.STPH Inc formed in answer to tens of thousands of this regions’ businesses, artists, preservationists, historians, related organizations, residents and visitors who would like to see the iconic The Pink House stay standing and be restored IN place.

It would require raising at least $1- 1.5 million dollars. Without FWS' full commitment or guarantee to release the house/land, no legitimate organization would have embarked on raising that kind of money - or succeeded - based on such an uncertain outcome.

So when it came time for the auction, we did look into every option within the parameters given by experts, for relocating The Pink House. Though it's not our mission, even if we found a workable situation, it's simply not within our current means to do it.

Therefore it’s not been a matter of our choice to not pursue the option to move The Pink House to a new location, but a realistic function of being unable to at this time.

See details below: 

Lands Suitable for Pink House Relocation Explored by STPH

1. NEWBURY TOWN GREEN –Get $150K to move it, $70K to pour foundation, Take time to restore, could not need electric or restrooms or water to act like a gazebo. Casually asked Select Board members, got a flat no.
2. NEWBURY LOTS - Among others:
a. Tendercrop-owned buildable lands, mostly off Rt 1A. Were told by builder that they would never let their lands go. 
b. The Colbys own a lot of land in the vicinity, but all non-buildable, including 95% of the land surrounding TPH. See note below* They gave it kind consideration but also declined selling to FWS.
c. 103 High Road, Newbury. Even though this fit criteria requested by Matt Hillman in March 2024, he declined it. Instead of this 4.4 acre, marsh lot worth $500k being conserved by FWS, it is unfortunately now listed for sale, with developers bidding.

​3. IPSWICH and ROWLEY:
STPH scoured the maps for anything that was abutting the Refuge, owned by the town or private parties. PH Volunteers who are Ipswich and Rowley's residents respectively asked their contacts there, and no one had the appetite for FWS to have more of the land in that area. 

4. HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND: Talked extensively in 2018-2019 for TPH becoming part of their 260+ acre protected holdings, including the airport and Spencer Pierce. Asked if they would be willing to make PH it's own historic district of one structure, which is possible. At that time they needed a sizable endowment before saying yes for upkeep, which does not include the funds to restore the outside, let alone the inside.  Fast forward to 2024, we wanted to explore if it could be moved to the grounds near the Vintage Baseball lot or somewhere else –but it would again require the same costs+ to move to the Village Green but be more complicated to get it to the area. We did not have the million dollar donor step forward at this time. When he did we asked if that would be a place to consider, but his donation was intended to keep the house in place, as a gift to FWS. Or even Greenebelt. Still, once the Governor stepped in, our Preservation Advisor tried to meet with the new president once the Governor stepped in but was unable to meet in time.

5. MAUDSLAY AJACENT – Met with owner of a 1600’s historic house and 10 acres abutting Maudslay who said if we could get it there they’d slowly restore it, but it is over 7 miles. We even looked at moving TPH via the Merrimac on a barge but there was no way to hoist it up and get it from the shore through forest to the site.

6. PLUM BUSH DOWNS - 2 different owners across the street in Plum Bush Downs approached us about land swap (not enough $ value) or moving the house (they have no funds). One also asked us to help fund for them to build a replica + Pilings on their 3 acres in a deeper flood zone. This is not our mission and we do not have the funding. Once TPH was offered by the demolition people to be moved, this was revisited by the million dollar donor. But circumstances for the land owners had changed since offering last fall, so was not an option. 

7. PLUM ISLAND GRILL – Former restaurant on corner of PI Turnpike and Sunset. IF it would fit across the PI bridge ( the movers told us that it would not), and the lot were wide enough, it’s cost prohibitive. The property costs $1.9 million to start, before moving ($250K), pilings ($125K), and restoration. The lot size, at .28 acres might have also been too small.

8. HORDEN PROPERTY –Already detailed. NOTE: There are TWO different Horden properties off PI. What’s available is R49-0-11, the rectangular 7.9 acre property with no road access. It is accessible however, from the 8.3 PH acreage FWS would retain in the land swap. It’s true value is in FWS owning it as the only way to expand their orphan acres in the location.

9. COLBY LANDS: 95% of the land surrounding The Pink House acres is not conserved, but owned by a local farming family. Even though land was unbuildable, this was discussed multiple times with several department heads at the town of Newbury regarding why it is unbuildable, the head of NBPT Sewer Dept Head and then NBPT Water to ask about feasibility and cost in detail. So far it looks like it can’t get the permits, can’t have a drive way, must go on pilings, and then no one can live there. Without being able to carve out a lot, there are complications for liability re: upkeep, maintenance and monitoring. 

We sent this information repeatedly to the federal and state elected officials. 
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We hope our efforts show that while moving The Pink House is not our mission, or what the people want, Support The Pink House did an extensive job of exploring and pricing out everything we could – including putting The Pink House on a barge.

This morning Support The Pink House announced that they are planning for a 100th Birthday Party for The Pink House, to be held Saturday, June 14, 2025.  The date was picked because it was in the summer of 1925 that Gertrude Cutter purchased the property from widow Abbie K. Little and proceeded to build The Pink House.  

The Pink House is an icon to the entire North Shore region and the state of Massachusetts, steadfast as a landmark and part of what makes New England charming, unique and special to residents and visitors from around the world, or around the corner.  And our goal is still to have the house restored in time to celebrate it's 100th birthday. 

While we continue to work on solutions as long as The Pink House is standing, whatever the future holds, The Pink House is an integral part of our identity. It is indelibly woven into the fabric and culture of this community -- it's many businesses, our fundraisers, tourism, artists.

And now for some fun! We want the community to have a hand in the creation of the celebration. What would you like to see happen?  Tell us in the comments below, or email us at [email protected]! We look forward to your input!   

And we're going to need your help to make it happen! If you would like to volunteer to chair or be on a committee to organize it, or donate art, food or beverages, or pitch in as an extra pair of hands as needed, all are wonderful. Please fill out the contact form on our website to let us know! 

And stay tuned for more in the coming months!! We're looking forward to a warm and wonderful Pink House Day event! 

PS: You can read the history of The Pink House HERE. 

On July 24, 2024, the board of Support The Pink House wrote their first column as a group in the Daily News of Newburyport. We put our energies into saving the house, every single day of the last 8 months, working literally non-stop on behalf of the public, night and day, on behalf of the thousands of people, businesses, artists, organizations in this region and beyond.  With all the stories and misinformation out there, we felt it was time people heard whats true from us.  

Support The Pink House (STPH) shares the goal stated in Fish and Wildlife’s (FWS) mission to work with others to conserve habitats. Contrary to what the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (which oversees the property) has stated, trading the Pink House and its acre for many acres of conservation land is far more in line with their mission than demolishing the house and keeping its residential acre.

FWS paid $375,000 for the Pink House and 9.3 acres in 2011. Today, the house and its acre of upland alone are worth $425,000. With marshland averaging $1000/ acre, FWS stands to acquire up to 400-plus acres of ecological habitat to conserve in trade.

Just two-and-a-half years ago, FWS realty chiefs invited STPH to partner with them on a swap precisely because it was “so beneficial to FWS’s mission.” FWS set the terms: they promised to find the land, stating, it’s what they do each day. In turn, they required us to pay for and execute a work-intensive series of steps to ready the house/acre. FWS approved or co-signed throughout. Our part took 18 months, our total donations and then some, and approximately 60 local professionals pitching in.

As the closing approached, we were so excited. After seven years of doing everything asked of us and prior solutions falling apart, this was different. This was succeeding. Imagine how it felt when, at the 11th hour, we learned FWS lost their land… and told us that the terms of our swap had to change.

FWS did resume vetting a handful of parcels, but soon after, began the plan to remove the Pink House – without informing us.

FWS told the public that all options had been exhausted, but it’s just not so. Without expertise, we found several parcels within a few months, some adjacent to refuges, some from land trusts, others with access to Route 1A, all desirable criteria to FWS. Every single one was rejected.

More land is out there.

Most refuge managers in the country have a wish list of lands to acquire. What are the odds that not one (or several) have a $4-500K parcel? We asked FWS to send one query to all, and offered to do the follow up, one of several reasonable requests we made that can still be done.

STPH’s board even met with the Friends of the Refuge who confirmed they can take donations for Pink House needs. FWS never tried. Last week, a $5,000 donation was offered (the estimate for yearly house upkeep) if FWS would resume work on solutions. FWS declined.

​Our restoration partner remains committed to buying any land FWS wants to trade, and fulfilling his personal pledge to own The Pink House and safely restore it on his own dime. This can still be done in time to celebrate the Pink House’s 100th birthday, ensuring this beloved cultural landmark, economic driver, tourist draw and artistic muse would continue to welcome and inspire generations to come.

If auctioned, the Pink House will be taken from its iconic location, likely without our preservation restriction to maintain its signature characteristics in perpetuity.

If unsuccessful, FWS plans to demolish The Pink House at a cost of $156,000. Once it is removed, the lots’ $425,000 value will plummet by 2026, due to becoming unbuildable.

Add their budget for a parking lot, benches, fencing, and permanent monitoring and you have substantial taxpayer dollars lost. Despite FWS’s report that 78% of the respondents to their 30-day comment period wanted to keep the Pink House where it is, and calls and letters continue, their decision remains unchanged. The people who donated to the steps do not want their funds wasted.

Removing the house is not in the best interest of FWS’ mission or the community.

Where are the watchdogs?

If FWS does not do the right thing, The Pink House will soon be gone forever, and with it, a large portion of supporters and the opportunity to conserve far more beneficial land. With options still out there, that is quite a deal FWS decided to give up, at quite a price.

The question is WHY?

Everything is still in place for this to be a win for all. We call on FWS to honor their commitment. Because Support The Pink House has — not due to contractual terms, but because we gave our word.

Support The Pink House members who contributed to this column included Rochelle Joseph, Alison Odle, Jeff Ackley, Kelly Page and Sandy Tilton.

Our founder Alison Odle has created this incredible piece of art and turned it into this year's poster for Newburyport Yankee Homecoming and If This House Could Talk - Newburyport!

​Alison created this artwork from hundreds of photographs and paintings of The Pink House made by artists over the years. Personally ~ I think it's PERFECT!! An incredible tribute to those who hold dear the meaning of community!!

Be sure to enlarge it and look closely!  ​

Brava Alison, and to every single one of you still supporting and still fighting for what is RIGHT for our community!

Art Matters.
History Matters. 
Community Matters! ​