Historical Commission Meeting

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Meeting of Historical Commission

Members: (Quorum)

• Absent: Edie Field, Honorary
• Absent: Carole Desanti, at 7:00 PM
• Absent: Ann Tweedy
• Present: Sara Robinson, at 7:00 PM
• Present: Susan Mareneck, Chair, 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

Also Present:

• Pleun Bouricius
• Tanya Cushman

See original Agenda Draft Minutes * * *

Meeting opened: 7:06 PM

Meeting closed: 9:08 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Jan 13 - Historical Commission Meeting

1. New Business

   • Public input - Topics from the public

     General Discussion...
     Pleun announced an offering from the MA History Alliance on 2/28 which will attempt to clarify some of the funding issues now arising with state and federal funding for historic preservation. MA Humanities grants, MA Cultural Council grants, National Endowments for Arts and Humanities, etc. She will share the link with anyone who is interested.

2. CPA Letters of Support

   • LOS - FONLS request 2024 - CD draft needs to be finalized.

     General Discussion...
     At the Jan 2025 meeting the HC voted to support the Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill (FONLS)'s proposal for CPA funding. At the January CPC meeting the members voted to refuse to consider the application this year. The question for the Historical Commission (HC) is about the role of the HC rep on the CPC - in this case Eva - who abstained. Should she have voted for the proposal since the HC had agreed to write a letter of support? It is an open question at this point. Research is needed as to what the law intended and how the town of Leverett wants to interpret the law. On a separate topic, Eva is concerned that the HC take an official vote to approve the FONLS plans for the exterior of the building to exercise the authority of the Commission as the holder of the Historic Preservation Restriction (HPR). Susan M will send the plans to Anne Schuyler who was not present when the presentation was made in January. One of the big benefits of the NPS Semiquincentennial grant is that it wil allow FONLS to afford folding glass panel doors to fit into the openings on the north wall where logs went in and out. The look will be transparent openings to keep with the historic appearance but still allow the security of a closed interior space for insurance purposes.

3. Conditions Assessment of Leverett Cemeteries

   • Update - Meeting to assess and collate info from walk-through North, Moore's Corner and Chestnut Hill cemeteries with Leverett Cemetery Association fall 2024 Put together an RFP for using funds from last year's town meeting allocation to estimate costs associated with doing the needed repair work in three of Leverett's historic cemeteries.

     General Discussion...
     Susan M. reiterates the process to identify repairs needed in North, Mt. Hope/Chestnut Hill and Moore's Corner/Rattlesnake Gutter Cemeteries which occurred in the fall of 2024. Now the results have to collated and made into an RFP to send out to potential contractors for bids. Eva mentions that small trees along the street edge of North Cemetery could be pruned out by a volunteer.

4. Historical Signage

   • Industrial History Markers - Update - Signage for Cave Hill, Federal Mill and Roaring Brook Mill

     General Discussion...
     Pleun will contact Roaring Brook property owners; Eva will contact Federal and Cave Hill Mill property owners.

5. Oversight of Historical Assets

   • HPR - Update - HPR for stone features

   • Properties - Update on - Slarrow Sawmill (FONLS); Moore's Corner Schoolhouse (LHS); 'Heritage Park & Nature Trail'(FONLS/Town of Leverett); Field Tavern (private); Graves' Ironworks (Town of Leverett managed by FONLS as part of 'Heritage Park' conservation area); Field Library/Museum (Town of Leverett in partnership with LHS)

     General Discussion...
     Julie Shively reported at the CPC meeting that some of the recent Swartz donation to the Historical Society will be invested in fixing the rotted second floor plate at the Moore's Corner Schoolhouse.
     
     At the Selectboard meeting on 2/11/25 their is meant to be a 'final report' from the Ad Hoc Committee on the Field Library/Museum.

6. Leverett's 250th Anniversary

   • Events - Update - 'Reveal' of 250th Anniversary Crazy Quilt with coffee and cake for Leverett's 251st, 5:30-7:30pm, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

7. Reports from Other Town Committees

   • Historical Commission rep on CPC - Discussion of role of Historical Commission representative on the Community Preservation Committee.

     General Discussion...
     How to support the Historical Commission (LHC)'s position on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)? If the LHC is not clear about a particular issue, it makes it difficult for the representative to know how to support it. There needs to be a position articulated in order for the rep to know what it is. If the rep does not personally approve of the official LHC position, what happens? One point of view is that the rep is not there to uncritically support the position of the LHC, but to bring a base of knowledge on the subject of historic preservation to the CPC table. It is suggested that a paragraph should be created on the LHC's official position if such a decision is made for the rep to refer to. For instance, 'The LHC voted to support a Leter of Support for the FONLS's proposal but it was conditioned upon....' An example might be 'that the Moore's Corner School House be repainted with the original color in 1950...' A separate suggestion is to have the LHC rep work with any Historic preservation applicant to work through the process - perhaps even starting in September? Then the LHC rep could go into the Octiber meeting with specific knowledge and be able to guide the discussion of CPC members.

   • Monthly Updates - Community Preservation Committee/ Selectboard/ Planning Board/ Affordable Housing/ Board of Health/ Recreation Committee/ Council on Aging/ Cultural Council/ Zoning Board of Appeals/ Conservation Commission.

8. Embodied History - Timber Industry Video from February 2024 viewing to be announced

   • Embodied History - Saturday, March 29, 2025, 'Timber Industry in Leverett - Historical Context' 1-2:30pm, Community Room, Library.; Refreshments. Include contemporary timber industry work in Leverett? (Woodsmith? Dylan Field? Woodworkers like Rocky Adriance, etc..? Bruce Spencer talking about the woodlot he is offering to the town as a town forest?)

     General Discussion...
     At its 2/11 meeting the Selectboard is also discussing the report from the Town Forest Committee (TFC). If the Selectboard approves the question for the Town Meeting Warrant, the TFC will also be doing some kind of presentation for the town to inform them of the issue. A mention of Bruce Spencer participating in that program and a film about Bruce and his forest made by 'Chris'? How do we want to present the history of Leverett's Timber Industry - 1/2 history/ 1/2 contemporary? Anne S. thinks contemporary practices could be at the end. Pleun suggests a hand-out. Many topics could be incorporated: the health of forests, controversies over logging techniques, changes in practices, ecological aspect, the fact that because of regulations in the US, most lumber is produced in Canada now, etc.. Pleun suggests that we create 30-45 minute version of the 3 hour February 2024 Timber Industry conversation for public consumption

9. Meeting Wrap-up

   • Next Meetings:
     1. Mon, Mar 10, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- ONLINE ONLY: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86125147556 Meeting ID: 861 2514 7556
     2. Mon, Apr 14, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- ONLINE ONLY: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86125147556 Meeting ID: 861 2514 7556
     3. Mon, May 12, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- ONLINE ONLY: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86125147556 Meeting ID: 861 2514 7556
     4. Mon, Jun 9, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- ONLINE ONLY: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86125147556 Meeting ID: 861 2514 7556

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