Peterborough selectmen want artists retreat to pay taxes

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. --Town officials say the MacDowell Colony should be paying property taxes and plan to take the internationally known artists' retreat to court.

Selectmen voted this week to file a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Superior Court.

The MacDowell Colony, which hosts more than 250 artists each year, has been considered a charitable organization for the last 100 years, and officials there argue that should not change.

Well known writers who have stayed at the colony include James Baldwin, Willa Cather, Barbara Tuchman and Alice Walker.

Aaron Copland composed parts of "Appalachian Spring" at the Colony; Leonard Bernstein completed his "Mass" and Thornton Wilder wrote the play "Our Town."

"We're not in business," MacDowell Resident Director David Macy said. "We always have a funding deficit every year."

"They're a wonderful nonprofit," Town Administrator Pamela Brenner said, but "they do still utilize town services."

From boston.com

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