HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Minutes
Business
1. Reviewed and accepted the minutes of
2. Bills: Signed bill from Ink Products for supplies
$281.93
3. Survey and Planning Grant bids: Only one bid was
received. The bid from Fitzgerald and Holliday was opened and reviewed. It will
be forwarded to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for their review and
comments.
4. The July 16 work session consisted of a continuation
of cataloging the Saunders postcard collection into the Past Perfect program.
Rebecca and Robin worked on the scanning and recording process.
5. Foyer display: It was decided to place the vintage
photos of Southwick houses (from the Commission collection) on display. Karen
and Barbara will set up the display on the morning of Sept. 5. The display
materials ordered from Ink Products will be used to organize and display the
photos. The idea is to rotate in six new photos every three or four months over
the next year.
6. Barbara will attend the Conservation Commission
Hearing pertaining to the Southwick Inn this evening (Aug.20) at
7. Planning Board Decision regarding the application of
the DPW to remove trees along the length of
8. 1790s Noble-Loomis land transfer: This old deed,
which has reference to the Honey Pot, was found in the museum room of the
Westfield Athenaeum and a copy forwarded to the Historical Commission by
Suzanne Davis to whom the Commission is thankful. Robin will do some research
to determine just where the property was located and also to gather more
information about the individuals listed in the deed. Perhaps more information
will become known as to the name given to the road. (Honey Pot)
9. Town Hall handicap accessibility: The Historical
Commission was asked to provide a letter of support indicating the historic
integrity of the rear central staircase as part of the process of applying for
a variance with the Commonwealth Access Board. The Town Hall is an example of
an adaptive use of a historic building involving renovation and restoration.
10. Update of the Canal
Committee meeting of August 13: The Canal Committee is comprised of
representatives of the Historical Commissions of the six communities through
which the canal traverses. The committee reviewed the scope of work projected
for the first part of the second phase of the Pilot Study. This work has been
contracted to PAL of
11. The Commission
members were made aware of the Preserve Mass Barns Conference to be held in
12. Because of a
conflict the chair had with a commitment on September 17, the Commission
decided to change the September 17th meeting to September 10. A
posting of the change will be made.
13. Mail was reviewed
14. Scott Ricker re
Southwick Florist: the Commission responded to his e-mail request for a copy of
the historical audit in relation to this building asking for more detail as to
what he was looking for. The Historical Commission responds to requests for
historic documentation. It does not initiate activity as to accessibility.
There are also various levels of historic designation and the various parts of
the accessibility regulations quoted by Mr. Ricker out of context are perhaps
not applicable in the manner Mr. Richer has interpreted them to be.
15. Tabled again to next
meeting:
· Review prospective resources list developed with
Chris Skelly to develop a list for consultant to
research.
Mail
1.
Planning Board Min
7/10 Agenda 7/24, 8/7, 8/21
2.
E-Mail Scott Richer re Southwick Florist about historical audit.
3.
From Pioneer Valley Planning Commission newsletter for September 2007
4. Conservation
Commission Min 7/2, 7/16 Agenda 8/6, 8/20
4.
E-Mail notice of Preserve Mass barns 2007 annual conference to be held on
November 3 in
5.
E-Mail from Patricia Bruttomesso re notification that
the
6.
From the American Assoc. for State and Local History the newsletter “Dispatch”
for August 2007.
7.
From the Massachusetts Historical Commission three copies of the contract
relating to the FY07 Survey and Planning Grant Project.
8.
A notice from R. Levesque Associates re a public hearing to be held at the Town
Hall regarding John Whalley’s proposed improvements
to the Southwick Inn and associated buildings located at 479-485 College
Highway Assessors map E parcels 147&150.
9.
From the National Preservation Institute a notice of the 2007-2008
Professional Seminars in Historic Preservation & Cultural Resource
Management.
10. Findings
and Decision of the Planning Board re the application to remove trees along
11. From
Nichols House Museum,
12.
13. Open Space
Committee Aug 8 meeting cancelled.
14. From the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation the publication “Terra
Firma #4”.
15. Sewer
Implementation Committee Min 6/21, 6/26
16. From Past
Perfect the newsletter for August 2007.
17. From the
18. A notice
that Community Preservation Committee canceled the July 26 meeting.
19. From
Suzanne Davis a copy of a 1790 Noble-Loomis land transfer.
20. From the
National trust for Historic Preservation a thank you for membership renewal.
21. From E.B.I.
Consulting a summary letter stating the final decision
re the Wireless Telecommunications Facility Undertaking 4SH0230B1 Southwick
Town Transfer Station 22 Industrial Drive, Southwick, MA EBI Project #61062184.
22. From the
American Assoc for State and Local History the newsletter #Dispatch” for July
2007.
23. From
24. From MA
Historical Commission the return of the contract instructions.
Barbara MacEwan
Chair, Historical
Commission
Karen Brzezinski
Todd Shiveley