HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Comm Minutes 4/30/1996MANSFIELD HISTORICAL COMMISSION
TOWN OF MANSFIELD
MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 02048
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Office at;
50 West St.
Mansfield, Ma. 02048
MANSFIELD HISTORICAL COMMISSION MINUTES
for April 30, 1996 at 7:30 PM at Town Hall
Present: Pat Cataloni, David Loving, Leslie Pasch, Charlotte Scozzafava and Kate Viens.
The minutes of the March 26, 1996 meeting were approved as recorded. Pat moved,
David seconded. All in favor. Kate announced that the Selectmen are sponsoring an
informational seminar on procedures for boards and commissions on Thursday, May 23 at
7 pm. It will cover the importance of minutes, the open meeting law, etc. and Kate will
attend.
The correspondence was reviewed.
Correspondence
1. Letter from Bay Colony Group, Inc., civil engineers, on Player's Choice Sports Facility
2. Mass Office on Disability flyer for ADA workshop
3. Memo from Selectmen on informational seminar
4. Summer schedule for Selectmen
5. Mansfield Animal Shelter Annual Flea Market
6. Bay St. Historical League Auction flyer
7. Town Manager's memo on informational seminar
8. Mass Historical Commission preservation update
The Mansfield historical Society has asked Kate to speak about the 1930 pageant at
the Fisher - Richardson House at its May meeting. She will also present Claire's report, the
last chapter of which has been received. George Yellin has given Kate a list of deeds
pertaining to the house. It was not clear who compiled the list or why it was not available
for Claire's research. Kate will send it to Claire. Leslie will make a complete copy of the
report, put it in a binder for the Society and route the last chapter to all Commission
members.
The National Register nomination was discussed. David had reservations about listing
the house as built in the 1740's. He was concerned about the impact of Claire's findings
on the traditional importance of the house in Mansfield. He wondered if perhaps the
house had been moved to its presence location, which might explain why the building
materials and style seem older than the 1740's. He suggested we wait until Jean Nordbeck
and Gean Parks were present to decide about the application for the National Register.
Kate suggested that we might be able to present both the facts and the traditional view of
the house. She pointed out that historical evidence is rarely conclusive.
There was a lengthy discussion of how to integrate Claire's research into the tours.
Leslie felt that a tour manual was essential and Charlotte volunteered to work on one. We
will invite the new curator, Cindy Crawford, to our next meeting. A local girl scout troop,
ages 12 -13, would like to be guides at the house and Cindy and Kate will coordinate with
adult supervision. Pat suggested that a newspaper article be written reporting Claire's
work and asking for information about the house. The Pilgrim Society will be
documenting houses in Massachusetts from 1620 until 1750.
Billie Siena was unable to obtain more prices for cemetery markers and cannot attend
our meeting tonight. She worked on historical info to put on the plaques. After confering
with Kate, nine cemeteries are proposed for signs:
West St.-- located next to Town Hall East St. - -near the East Mansfield Common
East Mansfield -- Ephraim Leonard, near Ephraim Drive
Fisher - Richardson -- Geneva Street, family cemetary
West Mansfield -- Jewell St. West Mansfield -- Gilbert St.
West Mansfield -- Williams St.- near Wading River - -also known as Happy Hollow
West Mansfield -- Codding Cemetery- -Oak St. Bird Road (to be donated to Town)
Pat thought Happy Hollow was on private land and suggested we verify that it is town -
owned. Lorilee will handle the billing and all funds have to be encumbered by June 30,
1996. Leslie pointed out that all purchases over $1000 require 3 bids, which appear to be
hard:to come by. Also, the Selectmen have to authorize all such purchases until the end of
the year. She will call Lorilee about this. She doubted if nine separate purchase orders
would be accepted. The plaques will be mounted on boulders with epoxy. DPW will do
the work and Karl Clemmy will donate the stones. There is enough room for 120
characters, which amounts to a short sentence. Kate has written descriptions of 5 sites
and will work on the others. She will send a list to each member for approval.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
V
Leslie A. Pasch
Secretary