HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Comm 03/18/1982~\ Mansfield Historical Commission
Minutes - March 18, 1982
The meeting opened at 7:37 at the Town Hall.
The minutes for the March 4th meeting were read and approved.
Connie Johnson reported that she had called the Massachusetts Historical Commi-
ssion office in Boston for information an the Economic Recovery Act of 1981.
According to the Commission, property must already be a designated landmark or
pert of an historic district to be eligible for the 25% tax credit. Unfortunately,
this does not yet apply to us.
Connie Johnson and Margaret O'Connell reported on the progress of copying Jennie
Copeland's "mansfield in Other Days" articles. One of the two volumes, a loose-
leaf scrapbook, has been successfully copied and the original returned to the
library. The other volume, which is bound, is presenting problems because the
pages are frail and cannot be removed to be copied singly. The book was brought
to the Franklin branch of Copy Maid, the Foxboro firm handling the copying, to be
tried on a different machine. The progress is slow and tedious on this volume.
The volume had also been brought to the library to try and copy it on their machine j
with no success. Several suggestions were raised at this point. David Loving
suggested that we have the book unbound for copying and then reo6d nct Lyman
Avery noted that this would require the permission of the Library -Trustees. It
was voted, with four "yes" and two abstentions, to make inquiries to binding
companies for an estimate of the cost involved in binding and rebinding.
The chairperson noted that the Commission had been given a list of soldier's
graves in the cemetery adjacent to the Town Hall and also a list of all people
from Mansfield, up to a certain date, who had served in the House, Senate or
Constitutional Convention, These were given by Librarian Peg Bradner.
Margaret O'Connell reported on the progress of typing and editing Patti Rotert's
East and South Mansfield Driving Tour. It seems that we do not yet have
substantiated information one"qui'-of the buildings to publish the tour now. Mar-
garet suggested that we might first put together either a tour or simply a pam-
phlet which illustrates the history of architecture in Mansfield by using one
superlative example of each style and illustrating it. C9nnie suggested that
if time permitted, we might have this pamphlet available for distribution at the
Conservation Fair in May.
More suggestions were given regarding the Conservation Fair. Andy Barr noted
that we shpuld have some sort of sign at the Commission's Booth asking people
to lend us their old photos and documents of Mansfield so that we might mhke
copies for our records. It was suggested that the Commission have a one-page
hand-out shbet, listing ways in which interested townspeople might help the
Commission. Connie mentioned that Jane Sheehan, who was not present, had suggest-
ed making a large map of Mansfield and illustrating it with photos of old homes.
The chairperson suggested that we send letters to the owners of buildings waiting
to be inventoried in hopes of getting more information about them. Lyman Avery
Agreed to write a form letter and have it ready for the next meeting.
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nie suggested that we might hire a history student from Wheaton College to
cuu,plete some of the inventories which have been started and left unfinished.
This would complete another twenty or thirty inventories. David Loving and
Lyman Avery expressed opposition to this idea. David suggested that each of the
Commissioners try and complete on of these inventories per month. All agreed
to try this method. Patti Rotert OaQaoft offeri2jLAgWOM to type any forms
completed by another commissioner I (W 0 -
Lyman
Lyman Avery submitted and read the completed form for the Chilson Foundry.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
IM C
ret O'Connell, secretary
Present: Lyman Avery
Charles Azarian
Andy Barr, former Commissioner
Connie Johnson, chairperson
David Loving
Margaret O'Connell, secretary
Patti Rotert, vice-chairman