Opening Doors in Winchester: Raising Awareness of Accessibility Gaps in Historic Towns (Copy)

By Casey Trumbower

Eager to start my day, I exited my local Starbucks in downtown Winchester with two hot coffees in hand. Leaning with all my weight to push open the notoriously heavy door, I pushed through, but the door recoiled from the change in air pressure. As I was thrown off balance, both coffees went airborne and the sidewalk absorbed the bulk of my morning caffeine. I would consciously counterbalance on future trips to Starbucks to avoid this annoying mishap, but I wondered how someone like my grandfather, who uses a wheelchair, or my grandmother, whose balance isn’t steady, would manage in this situation. A mere inconvenience for me could actually prevent others from simply grabbing a morning coffee, or worse, result in a fall or other injury. At that moment, I began to question the accessibility in Winchester, a town that prides itself on inclusion and community.

I decided to research the issue. I spoke with 20 Winchester business owners about my concerns in the context of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). After receiving permission, I measured the force needed to open 50 storefront doors. Surprisingly, 52% of measured doors exceeded the ADA’s recommended opening force of 10 pounds, including Starbucks, which came in at 15 pounds. Follow-up conversations revealed that 60% of participating businesses thought their entrances were already accessible.

To collect the data, I studied ADA guidelines and borrowed a digital force gauge to record how much effort it took to open each door. Most business owners were interested and supportive once I explained the project’s purpose. Some even asked me to return after making small adjustments, like oiling hinges or recalibrating door closers. The process showed me how simple awareness could spark real improvements in accessibility.

Part of the challenge in Winchester, like many towns across Massachusetts, is the large number of historic buildings. While these storefronts preserve New England charm, they also come with heavy wooden doors, narrow entryways, and old hardware that make compliance with modern accessibility standards more difficult.

This issue isn’t unique to Winchester. Across Massachusetts, outdated infrastructure and low public awareness create daily accessibility barriers. Dave Estrada, who works on community access initiatives in Massachusetts, notes that, “Raising public awareness is one important way to encourage building owners and communities to make accessibility improvements.” Experts like Dr. Chloe Slocum of Spaulding Rehabilitation emphasize that “making it easier to navigate business entryways expands customer bases and improves safety for everyone.”

Since my work began, I’ve seen signs of progress, including a new power-accessible door at Starbucks. As we mark the 35th Anniversary of the ADA, I’m hopeful that raising awareness will keep opening doors—literally and figuratively—to build towns that are not only historic and beautiful, but also truly inclusive.