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Leverett
Massachusetts
Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
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Historical Commission Meeting

Monday, November 19, 2018, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Town Hall
A meeting of the Historical Commission

Meeting of Historical Commission

Members: (Quorum)

  • Absent: Sara Robinson
  • Present: Ann Tweedy, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Mareneck, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Edie Field, Honorary, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Lynton, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Anne Schuyler, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Eva Gibavic, at 7:00 PM

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:05 PM

Meeting closed: 9:30 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. 1. Update - Digital Archives Project & Cemeteries

    • Cemeteries - Cemetery Preservation Campaign/ Research/ Conservation (brief update) - Update: Contact Betsy Friedberg at Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) regarding State and National Register designation for seven historic cemeteries submitted by UMASS grad students August 2017. - Update: CPC funded Tamara Conde’s to work on Mt. Hope; - Leverett Cemetery ownership question (Wiley et al.) - Leverett Cemetery Association signage update.

      General Discussion...
      Edie and Susan L. are working to answer the MHC questions on Plainview, Mt.Toby, Gardner, Patrick. They will incorporate any information gleaned from Martha Lyon's "Veteran's Recognition" SHRAB grant. Eva suggests that the RattlesnakeGutter Road gravesite and tomb be included on the list of Leverett cemeteries

    • Digital Archives Project - - Baptist Church archives (brief update).

      General Discussion...
      No update.

    • Individual Cemetery Issues - Individual Cemetery Issues & Questions: Wylie boundaries? Leverett Cemetery Association

      General Discussion...
      At their meeting on 10/30/18, the Leverett Select Board officially accepted the Wiley Cemetery from the previously recorded owner; research and documentation provided by Eva Gibavic. Town counsel has subsequently questioned restrictions on uses of "cemetery lands" based on MGL. Town counsel is in direct communication with the owners of the Amherst property whose driveway intersects a corner of the cemetery to see if an easement can be worked out. It is our understanding that if the above question is resolved, the Town will have to accept the cemetery at TM, then the easement can be granted.

      Leverett Cemetery Association completed identification signage for the cemeteries they maintain: North, East, Depot Road/Hillsboro, Plainview, Moore's Corner and either Jackson Hill or Mt. Toby, Edie was not sure. It was suggested that identification signage for the remaining cemeteries: Chestnut Hill/ Mt. Hope, (Jackson Hill or Mt. Toby), Gardner, Patrick, Wylie and Marvel be larger in order to be easily read from a vehicle. Would ID signage be eligible for a SHRAB grant?

    • Veterans Recognition Project - Review Martha Lyon/Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC draft report.

      General Discussion...
      Martha has finished her report for the SHRAB grant, "Leverett Veteran's Recognition Project, Assessment Report".

      SM will set up a meeting with Bill Rathbun to begin the design phase of the informational signage. Ann Tweedy and Anne Schuyler are interested.

      1. Leverett_Cemeteries_SHRAB_FINALReport-11-2018.pdf

  3. 2. History related/ Cultural Event possibilities

    • Schooling in Leverett - "Education in Leverett- Village Schools to Consolidation" Oral History Project.

      General Discussion...
      Ann Tweedy reported that the grant which the Leverett Library is pursuing to transcribe the interviews from the "One Room School House" oral history project done in partnership with the Leverett Elementary School, Grade 6 in 2017-18, requires a "preservation assessment". She will check w with Natane, new Librarian. An intern from UMASS to transcribe the interviews may be possible.

  4. 3. Strategic Planning for Historical Assets Survey

    • ConComm OSP - Map of historic mills; identify.

      General Discussion...
      LHC agrees with Eva's work on separate maps for mills (archaeological sites) and cemeteries. Right now 10 of 12 cemeteries; should include all 12 for the Open Space Plan.

    • Historical Assets Survey Questionnaire - HAS Questionnaire - - Final Report - Strategies for reporting findings. Meet with Capital Planning Consultant re future funding for Historical Assets.

      General Discussion...
      A preliminary application to MHC for a "Survey & Planning" grant has been submitted. SL will speak to Michael Steinitz at MHC re any questions. LHC will apply to CPC to match S&P funds to hire a grant manager to implement educational gatherings across the community over the next year with the goal of creating a strategic plan for preserving Leverett's historical assets. An example of an activity that might engage and educate on the value of our archaeological remains might be a walk along the Sawmill River sluiceways (southwest from the Slarrow Sawmill in North Leverett center to the Leverett Montague town-line). Sites that fit numerous criteria for preservation would be high priority.

      Final HAS Report, "Preservation Planning in Leverett" is ready. All are encouraged to read it.

      SM will contact Sarah Concannon, Capital Planning consultant, in order to set up an interview with LHC members and make her aware of the HAS report and other LHC initiatives. We are interested to hear from her regarding her question about historic bridges eligibility for repair funding.

      1. Leverett_HAS_report_--_corrected_version.pdf

  5. LHC

    • Commission communication - Ethics Test

      General Discussion...
      Eva will take this test.

    • CPA Monitoring - Reporting on visits

      General Discussion...
      Yearly monitoring/reporting is important in order to keep Preservation Restrictions in effect. The restrictions are held in different places - some state, some local (depending on who holds the restriction?). Is there a Restriction filed for the Slarrow Sawmill? SM ask BDouglas. Edie ask Fran Kirley. From preliminary research it appears that properties receiving CPA funds are required to be available to the public, researchers and historians. More research is needed on the topic.

    • LHC Budget - Collect LHC expenses from 2017-18 to present to SB and Finance for 2020 budget.

      General Discussion...
      SL will provide expenses for Survey Monkey, etc.. SM for "One Room School House" project.

    • Policies, New members?

      General Discussion...
      SM and AT will approach two residents suggested as potential members of the LHC.

  6. 5. LHS

    • Brief update of activities - - Brief update of activities - Meetings planned?

      General Discussion...
      New acquisition, an early- mid-19th century Maynard Family Journal is currently in Edie's possession. Could we scan to share contents online? SM will contact Rob Cox at UMASS Archive/ Special Collections.

  7. New Business

    • Demolition Delay Ordinance - Demolition Delay Review Application 257 Montague Road - Dickinson/Goding House

      General Discussion...
      Members of LHC attended PB meetings to discuss best way to position the Demolition Delay Bylaw to be easily recognized by the FRCOG Buildings Dept. It was left that PB Chair would contact Building Commissioner re whether it could be on the checklist for all building permits? LHC was charged with clarifying Subsection (3)b. SM will consult Chris Skelly at MHC, research other DD bylaws in MA for clarification.

      1. Article_61_Leverett_DD_Bylaw(1).pdf - Leverett Demolition Delay Ordinance (61)

    • Fish Pond - Friends of Leverett Pond - Dam Repair, inclusion as one of Leverett's historical assets; barn contents; etc..

      General Discussion...
      No updates

    • Historical Bridges/ Capital funding - Historical Bridges and funding for repair?

      General Discussion...
      (See above - SM will set up a meeting; send corrected "Preservation Planning" Report on the Historical Assets Survey to Sarah, cc Margie.)

    • MHC - MHC Archaeology - Solar installation

      General Discussion...
      An application for a solar installation on Long Plain was discussed. What is currently LHC's role in such a process? Would we need to create a policy that would allow the Commission to be consulted in such a review if there were preservation issues? Consultation with MHC needed regarding archaeological review/ oversight policies.

      MOTION, moved by Susan Lynton, seconded by Ann Tweedy: "Move that we work towards creating a policy that would allow us to include archaeological significance as a consideration in the town permitting process after researching how to establish such a policy coordinating with MHC and the State Archaeologist.".

      Pass: Aye: Edie Field, Ann Tweedy, Susan Mareneck, Anne Schuyler, Susan Lynton. Abstain: Eva Gibavic. Not Present: Sara Robinson.

      Members present discussed the legitimacy of the Commission taking a position on an issue for which it does not have a specific policy.

    • Newsletter - December newsletter

      General Discussion...
      "Adopt-An-Ancestor'; HAS Report, "Preservation Planning in Leverett"; SHRAB Report, "Veterans' Recognition Project, ASSESSMENT REPORT".

    • Town Pound - Town Pound disappearance from Assessor's Maps

      General Discussion...
      Assessors looking at the issue.

  8. Meeting Wrap-up

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by SM

Minutes approved on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2019