Minutes May 19, 2008
Business
1. Amasa Holcomb research: Robin and Barbara went over the material already obtained from the Smithsonian and decided what was needed from ELSEVIER. Barbara will e-mail ELSEVIER and determine what the fee would be for the pages needed.
2. Conservation/ Preservation Easement for 20 Depot St.: Barbara met on May 6 with representatives of Bank of America, the developer, the Planning Board, Town Council, and Rob Levesque to work out an arrangement to preserve the homestead and allow the development to proceed. After hearing the Historical Commission’s concerns and the Commission’s plan for preservation, Bank of America will present to the owners the preservation ideas the Commission put forth for consideration. The Commission would like to see a preservation/conservation restriction plan developed which would be recorded with the deed. Within the preservation guidelines set up, the buildings and grounds could be used as part of the over 55 condo complex.
3. Robin reported that at the Southwick-Tolland Regional School Superintendent’s office there are items the Historical Commission might like to take over stewardship of. The Commission members, at the suggestion of the superintendent, decided to write a letter to the school committee asking for a transfer off the items to the care of the Historical Commission. The items are: the Southwick Consolidated School -1928 and all of the district schools it replaced, the Consolidated School Dedication, and pictures of three superintendents-Pratt, Miller, and Gillette.
4. Historic Resources Inventory Update: Steve e-mailed that early June looks good for a review of part 3 of the project objectives. They are having a problem with the GIS portion as Southwick has not forwarded the material needed so that the historic overlay can be mapped out in digital format. Barbara will speak to Dick Grannells about getting the information to Steve.
5. Wolfe Dairy Farms milk bottle: Sue LaRoche e-mailed that her daughter found a milk bottle that had Wolfe Dairy Farms on it. She would like more information. The Commission will do some research and forward the information to Sue. Karen will speak to members of the Wolfe family and find out more about their farms and their dairy business. There are several Wolfe farms on Coes Hill Road and their dairy business was probably one of the more extensive ones in Southwick.
6. Williamsburg Estates: Barbara went to the planning board hearing on April 29. The Planning board entered into the minutes the letter sent by the Commission stating their concerns regarding the historic Mouse Hill Road and the historic scenic landscape. The Commission recommended that this area be the open space the development sets aside. The planning board reviewed the findings of the April 26 walk as well as environmental impact studies done. It was decided that further studies were needed in order to determine the impact of the development on such things as water flow and absorption of water into the soil among other things. The hearing was continued.
Mail
1. Past Perfect notice of training session to be held in Chestnut Hill, MA on July 15-17, 2008
2. From the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission an invitation to their annual meeting to be held at Mount Holyoke College
3. Planning Board Min 3/18, 3/25, 4/1 Agenda 5/6
4. Open Space Planning Committee Min 4/9 Agenda 5/14
5. Conservation Committee Agenda 5/5, 5/19
6. Board of Health Min 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1
7. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Newsletter for June 2008
8. From the American Association for State and Local History the membership card for the Historical Commission
9. From Atty Albano a copy of letter sent to Atty Sypeck summing up meeting held on May 6 regarding the Laflin/Phelps Homestead
10. E-Mail from Sue LaRoche asking for information regarding a milk bottle found with “Wolfe Dairy Farms” on it
11. E-Mail from Steve Bedford stating that the historic resources inventory is moving along well
12. Lake Management Committee Min 4/24
13. From the Mass Humanities, U Mass, and MA Historical Society an announcement of a conference on “Sustaining the Future of Massachusetts History” to be held in Worcester on June 9
14. Community Preservation Committee Agenda 5/1
15. A notice of intent to construct a single-family home at 38 Beach Road by Daniel Thompson Conservation Commission Hearing on May 19
16. From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the Forum News for May/June 2008
17. From the Association for State and Local History the newsletter “Dispatch” for May 2008
Barbara Mac Ewan
Chair, Historical Commission
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