The Methuen City Council met on August 5 to vote on whether or not to purchase this historically significant property. The Searles Estate is not only a cornerstone of Methuen’s rich history but also an irreplaceable treasure that must be preserved for this and future generations.

The decision to purchase and preserve the Searles Estate is crucial. Allowing this property to slip through our fingers would be a tremendous loss to our community. The estate is a testament to our past and a beacon for our future, embodying the spirit and story of Methuen.

The City of Methuen has a deadline to purchase the estate at a price far below its assessed value. The city has already procured a grant to investigate a number of options to preserve the estate while making it financially profitable.

Methuen has lost major historic landmarks such as the magnificent Tenney Castle and the Washington Memorial due to shortsighted decisions made by past town councils. The Searles Estate must be purchased by the city to preserve this important landmark, for all of our citizens and for those generations that will follow us. We support the decision to purchase the estate. This is a tremendous opportunity for economic growth and community enrichment for all citizens and visitors to our city.