By BARBARA POLICHETTI
The Johnston Historical Society learned last week that a former resident and native son, who is also an architect, historian and scholar, has donated $50,000 to help …
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The Johnston Historical Society learned last week that a former resident and native son, who is also an architect, historian and scholar, has donated $50,000 to help preserve the town’s past.
Anthony J. Ursillo, a trustee of the historical society, surprised the group with the news at an impromptu gathering at the Johnston History Museum on Putnam Pike. Holding a letter in his hand, he announced that Gerald Fandetti, an architect with a well-known career dedication to historic preservation, made the contribution to help ensure that “the town’s history remains a vibrant part of its future.”
Ursillo also happens to be Fandetti’s cousin and said that the surprise donation underscores a shared family commitment to preserving Johnston’s history. Ursillo is the owner of the Historic Shang Baily Roadhouse, a storied local property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In a statement, the Historical Society expressed gratitude for Fandetti’s donation and his commitment to the town.
“This generous gift will support two important projects: the preservation of the Elijah Angell House, a cherished 19th-century landmark, and the creation of a new archive honoring the 1963 graduating class of Johnston Senior High School,” the society said.
The society’s plans for the donated funds include restoring the structural integrity of the Elijah Angell House while maintaining its historic character. Simultaneously, the funds will be used to gather and preserve records, photographs, and ephemera related to Johnston Senior High School’s first high school graduates. Fandetti was a member of that graduating class of 1963, and Ursillo said that Fandetti’s connection inspired the archival effort.
In addition to the projects funded by Fandetti’s gift, the society is inviting the community to contribute to the 1963 graduating class archive. Residents with photographs, memorabilia, or stories related to Johnston Senior High School’s inaugural graduating class are encouraged to contact Anthony Ursillo at aursillo401@gmail.com. These contributions will help create a comprehensive and meaningful tribute to this historic milestone.
To celebrate the donation, Ursillo had a large facsimile of the check printed so delighted members could pose with it.
He said that after graduating from Johnston Senior High, Fandetti went on to the Rhode Island School of Design and Harvard University, earning an education that laid the foundation for a career dedicated to restoring historic landmarks across New England.
According to Ursillo, Fandetti’s career has been defined by a series of ambitious preservation projects, and he provided the following account of some of Fandetti’s notable historic work.
In 1991, Fandetti and his wife, Charlotte, purchased the Prentiss House, an abandoned nursing home in Harvard Square. The couple painstakingly restored the building, transforming it into the Mary Prentiss Inn, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Two years later, they turned their attention to Engine 7, a firehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, slated for demolition. Built in 1894, the firehouse was reimagined as the Kendall Hotel, a boutique property designated a Historic Hotel of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Memorabilia from Engine 7 adorns the hotel, which remains a cornerstone of Cambridge’s historical identity.
In 1999 the couple embarked on the restoration of Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Originally built in 1902 as a summer retreat for Boston lawyer Bradley Palmer, the mansion had fallen into disrepair. Under Fandetti’s leadership, it was restored and repurposed as an event venue that now hosts hundreds of weddings annually. It has since been recognized as one of the premier wedding venues in the Boston area.
Ursillo said that while Fandetti now divides his time between homes in Florida, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, his Johnston roots remain strong. And he quoted his cousin as saying, “My family has a long history here. I grew up in this town and those years left an indelible mark on me. I am proud to contribute to the preservation of its rich history.”
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aursillo401
Thanks to the Johnston Historical Society and the Johnston Sunrise Newspaper/Barbara Polichetti for keeping the history of Johnston ....ALIVE.......The JHS plays such an integral role in the community and always welcomes individuals to stop by our Museum located at 101 Putnam Pike Johnston..Check website for hours of operation...www.johnstonhistorical.org
Thursday, January 16 Report this