Bishop’s Terrace, Baptist Church Projects Win Approval

 WEST HARWICH – There are some major improvements coming to Captains’ Row following the historic district and historical commission’s approval of restoration plans for both Bishop’s Terrace and the West Harwich Baptist Church. 

 The commission unanimously approved both projects on June 17.

 “I wouldn’t be here if it were not for the efforts of John Carey,” Jeffrey Handler, a partner in JSLW, LLC, the new owner of Bishop’s Terrace, told the commission when making his presentation on plans to restore the vacant restaurant property at 108 Route 28.

Handler praised Carey’s work in restoring the 1871 schoolhouse, creating 10 apartments — three of them affordable — on the property behind the West Harwich Baptist Church. He also praised the developer for his presentation on Carey’s plans to restore the 1841 Greek Revival church at 62 Route 28 in the center of the village. 

Handler told the commission that his initial plan was to discuss how to move forward with the preservation of the main house on the Bishop’s Terrace property, because he was not yet sure of the ownership change. But the transaction has taken place, Handler said, so he was before the commission seeking approval of the plans for the property. 

The property consists of 1.47 acres with 8,660 square feet of buildings that made up the Bishop’s Terrace restaurant, which was established in 1942. All of the attachment structures will be demolished, Handler said, and the main building, the home Job Chase Sr. built in 1778, will be restored. 

 “We’re not recreating the Bishop’s Terrace,” he said. “Bishop’s Terrace has had its time. It’s to restore the home built 248 years ago.”

Handler said Carey called him and asked if there was any interest in the property. He got together with his father-in-law Jeffrey Lang, mother-in-law Sandy Wycoff and his wife and visited the property. He said they were stepping over raccoon feces, there were holes in the walls and ceilings and trees growing through. There was evidence of people living illegally on the second floor, he added.

Handler said he wanted to leave, but his mother-in-law saw details she liked and suggested buying and restoring the building.

 “Sandy Wycoff gets the credit for why we are here,” Handler said.

Handler said negotiations with owner John Gregg were grueling. A provision in the purchase and sales agreement required that, should preservation work not be performed, the building would have to be sold back to Gregg. Barnstable Registry of Deeds records show the purchase price was $900,000.

Both Handler and Wycoff said there are no specific plans for the property.

HDHC member Lynne Zalesak said the house was built by Revolutionary War soldiers. She wanted to know if items, such as the original ironworks, would be saved.

 “Absolutely, yes,” responded Handler. “Everything that can be saved and repurposed will be saved.” 

Commission member Paul Doane suggested the project could win the commission’s newly established historic preservation award. 

 “It’s so exciting that the original building is going to be preserved,” said HDHC Chair Mary Maslowski. 

Duncan Berry, one of the founders of the Captains’ Row movement to preserve the historic homes of sea captains along that section of Route 28, said Job Chase Sr. bought the land that started Captains’ Row. 

 “This is our equivalent of having a John Adams or JFK house,” said Berry. 

In a unanimous vote, the commission approved the proposal to demolish the attachments and have the 1778 structure preserved. 

Carey’s request for partial demolition and preservation work on the church also went smoothly. He told the board he would remove the aluminum siding and install new wood siding and trim, adding a new asphalt roof, replacing several low level windows and removing a secondary door to the rear of the church which leads to the parking lot. 

He will also add storm windows for additional protection of the historic stained glass windows. The entire building will be repainted and steeple work would be done, including refurbishing the four clock faces. 

 “The finished work will look like a 1902 postcard of the church,” Carey said.

The church will be used for community assembly events, said Carey. The commission approved the request unanimously.