By 4Squares Residential Group with Judi 411
While hidden gems are delightful to uncover, sometimes they’re so well-hidden that even locals miss out on something extraordinary. The Brooks Estate, the Victorian summer home of the Brooks Family on fifty acres of protected green space, is one of those treasures that even lifelong residents may not know about.
As President of the Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust (M-BELT), Medford's community nonprofit dedicated to preserving and restoring the Brooks Estate, Carly Nesson is here to change that. We sat down with Carly to discover what brought her to Medford and how she plans to help The Brooks Estate become a beloved landmark in Medford and beyond.
What were the roads that led you to Medford?
I’m originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After attending college in South Carolina, I moved to Boston with my then-significant other, who was starting graduate school. I quickly fell in love with the area.
A few years ago, I was apartment hunting while pregnant and looking for more space to welcome my baby. I found a lovely two-family home in South Medford with owner-occupied tenancy, which was perfect for us. I’m still living there today, and it’s everything I wanted. It’s a great home for my son, who’s now almost four. I love living in Medford and consider it my forever home because it has everything I didn’t know I was looking for.
What are some of your favorite things about your South Medford neighborhood?
I love the local go-to spots, especially Grounder Cafe, for their personalized service and messages on the food and drinks. Bob's Italian is another favorite — it has something for everyone. But what I love most are the people. I know almost all my neighbors, and we often get together for game nights, movies, and even a block party last year. I have a great porch overlooking the street, where I enjoy reading and greeting people as they walk by. It's a wonderful, close-knit community. There aren’t many cars coming through, so we can ride our bikes and scooters, and it’s just awesome. I also love that we’re within walking distance of the Missituk Elementary School. I walked to school growing up, and I’m glad he’ll have the same experience.
What inspired you to become involved with The Brooks Estate, and what are some of your plans and calls to action for the future?
I've lived in Medford for about four years, but I only discovered the Brooks Estate in February of this year, about six months ago. I learned about it from my neighbor, Patrick Clerkin, who ran for city council last year and became familiar with the Brooks Estate through his campaign.
One night, over beers on the porch, he said, “I’ve got a project for you. There’s this place in Medford that needs some love and attention. You love architecture, you love history, you’re a project manager with great vision—this is right up your alley. Go make it happen.”
I checked out the website, and it piqued my interest. So, Patrick introduced me to Tom Lincoln, our local expert on the history of the Brooks Estate and one of the founders of M-BELT. Tom gave us a tour, and the more I saw, the more I knew I wanted to be a part of it, mostly because I heard the same thing from people, just like me, who had had no idea the Brooks Estate existed. That’s all the motivation I need—we must shout it from the rooftops and make sure everyone in Medford knows about this hidden gem.
After meeting with Tom, I decided to explore on my own. I wandered to the end of the boardwalk overlooking the pond, and as I stood there, the clouds parted, the sun shone through, and the birds started singing. At that moment, I felt a profound sense of peace. I realized that this place is a true gem, and every person in Medford needs to know about it. I submitted my letter of intent, citing my experience in volunteer management and nonprofits. Soon after, I met with the existing board, and after several in-depth discussions about my vision, I joined as president of M-BELT a few months ago.
Photos, clockwise from top left: Brooks Estate Summer Picnic 2024, sandwiches from Bob's, the hard-working espresso machine at Grounder Cafe and fall foliage at the Brooks Estate.
What upcoming events or developments can we look forward to at the Brooks Estate?
I’ve only been in the role for two months, but it feels like a lifetime in the best way possible, and I’m excited about what’s next.
Overall, the short-term goals focus on boosting visibility and engagement, creating and filling volunteer roles, and fostering a sense of volunteer pride and ownership.
We recently hosted this year's Brooks Estate Picnic, our most successful event ever. We had over 200 attendees, and from my conversations, about half had never heard of or visited the Brooks Estate before. They came because of the advertisement and had a chance to learn about the estate, which was a massive win for us.
Our next big event is a cleanup in the first week of October. This will be an excellent opportunity for people to volunteer and help us care for the property. We’ll focus on the interior and exterior, including cleaning, painting, and landscaping. There are tasks for all skill levels so that everyone can contribute. We’d love to have as many hands on deck as possible!
Longer-term, we are working towards establishing a more robust committee structure for the board. This structure will align with our key focus areas, including caring for the manor, maintaining the grounds, planning events, and managing communications. We want to ensure that each of these pillars has dedicated attention and resources.
In terms of community outreach, we’re interested in connecting with the right person at Medford High who coordinates student volunteer requirements so we can be added to their list. We’re also looking to find the right contact at Tufts to explore internship opportunities and understand which ones we should apply for. Ultimately, we want to build a reliable list of contacts who will keep us in mind for these partnerships.
You’ve certainly hit the ground running! We always like to wrap up with our final question: If your best friend told you they were planning to move to Medford, what would you tell them?
Well, I’d definitely tell them about the Brooks Estate! Just the other day, I was talking to someone who mentioned they were moving to Medford at the end of the month. Naturally, I told them about the Brooks Estate—I said it’s the hidden gem they will fall in love with. I was recently on the Duck Boat Tour in the city, and the tour guide mentioned he moved to Medford. I told him that he had to check the Brooks Estate out as a history buff! There's much to love about the Brooks Estate: the walking trails, the birds, the pond — all of it!
Another thing I appreciate about living in Medford is the strong sense of community. It’s not just with my neighbors; when I go to the library, I see how they highlight what Medford residents are doing. We have Chapters Coffee Cart run by residents with disabilities, and the library showcases various slices of the community that we love and want to bring together. That’s why the library is always on my list of recommendations.
It’s funny that once you live here, you find so many people with an affinity, love, or connection to Medford. Today, I had an interesting call about my job at Oracle with someone who’s now in Vancouver. When he noticed I’m in Massachusetts, he mentioned that he went to Northeastern for college and absolutely loves the state. When I told him I live in Medford, he responded, "I love Medford!" There’s just something about Medford that evokes that reaction. Why not be a part of it?
To learn more about the Brooks Estate and how you can support the organization through volunteer or donor opportunities, visit www.brooksestate.org.
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