I was a resident of Newburyport from 1922 to 1940. I am keenly interested in Jacob Perkins’s workshop and have been talking with Jim Roy, Nick Cracknell, Al Cliffordf, Jay Williamson, Wilhelmina Lunt and others.

Nicholas Cracknell is absolutely necessary for Newburyport. Without him historic Newburyport will crumble.

James Lagoulis’s plan to restore the front of the “Mint” and to place living space inside the “Mint” is the least attractive of the many solutions.

I have written the Bureau of Engraving and Printing asking them to make a site visit to view the building where Jacob Perkins created his inventions in relationship to steel engraving and the development of the methods to produce paper money. I will work towards interesting them in assisting in the reconstruction of the Perkins Mint. Newburyport survives on history, historic sites and historic heritage.

I applaud your writings in the Newburyport Political Blog, Mary. My feelings are similar to yours.

Melvin Shoul, Newton, MA