STOW, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) - A Stow man's plan to turn his collection of historic artifacts into a living history museum has dusted up controversy in the town of stow.
His foundation wants a new space to display dozens of historic aircraft, war tanks and vehicles, but zoning laws and concerned neighbors could stand in the way.
"Living history. Historic artifacts can always enhance that because people can see the items that were a part of history,” Collings said.
Robert Collings and wife's run the Collings Foundation, which currently showcases these artifacts on their property.
"We need more space,” Collings said.
The plan to expand is a proposed American Heritage Museum, on his property, that will trace the nation's history from the Revolutionary War to the war in Afghanistan.
But bylaws restrict constructing a museum in a residential area, unless the building is for educational purposes.
Collings says members of the planning board don't believe it's educational because students don't take a test at the end of the tour.
"'There has to be a test.' Well there is an awful lot of education that doesn't involve a student and a test,” Collings said.
Other concerns go beyond the bylaws and focus on Barton Road, currently the only way to reach Collings’ collection.
Collings says he's committed to spending his foundation's money to buy land in order to build a new access road.
"I think it's definitely a win-win for the community," he said.
But the road to his vision of America's past is still up in the air.
Wednesday night the board voted 3-2 rejecting the museum, but Collings says he will appeal.