Stoneham Couple Receives Historical Commission's Heritage Award

A local couple recently received the Stoneham Historical Commission's 21st annual Heritage Award at a Selectmen's session at Town Hall.

Larry and Bee Russo were presented with Heritage Award plaque at the meeting.

Margaret Warren, chairman of the Historical Commission, praised the lifelong Stonehamites for saving the East School and repurposing it into an apartment complex.

"The East School has been part of the Beacon Street neighborhood for over 70 years, but vacant buildings do not lend themselves to preservation," Warren said. "The easy option would have been to demolish the building for a parking lot to relieve spring Little League issues for parking. Fortunately, when the town issued its request for proposal (RFP) in 2011 it wisely included the option of adaptatively reusing the building while retaining the 1938...facade."

She continued, saying, "The East School is a perfect example that preservation works. The outcome is a win for the town and the character of the neighborhood. They surely shined the spotlight on one of Stoneham's distinct places."

In the fall of 2011, the Russos purchased the property and have since adaptively reused it by making a three-unit luxury condominium building. Each unit is 3,000 square feet and features three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as built-in garages.

The couple thanked the commission for the award, and Larry Russo added that there have been several open houses and how people have been "wowed by the attention to detail."

Past recipients include Bruce Netten, Maureen Saltzman, Class of ’82 Beautification Fund, Stoneham Fire Chief Joseph Rolli and Firefighters, Zachary Kline, Paulene “Bee” Russo, the Lister Family, Nancy Smith and Maureen Welch, The Copley Group, Donna Weiss, the Mayo Family, The Fuller House of Stoneham, the Symes Family, Richard A. Johnson, Stoneham Historical Society, Stoneham Senior Center, Nicholas and Marjorie Apalakis, Stoneham Savings Bank, Alliance House, Annamae Arsenault, Elizabeth M. Whelan, Mary K. Marchant and Joanne B. Harriman, according to a press statement.

Check out our video coverage of the award presentation.

Past Coverage

Bruce Netten Wins Stoneham Historical Commission's Heritage Award [VIDEO]