[MassHistPres] Cemetery Commission Rumble

[Jonathan Feist]

Hi all,

The Harvard Shaker Cemetery issue has taken an unsuspected turn. To
summarize the history, the Harvard Cemetery Commission proposed sandblasting
and powdercoating the cast iron markers in the Harvard Shaker Cemetery, to
be funded by the CPA. I¹m a member of the CPC as well as chair of the
Historical Commission.

The applicants met with the CPC to discuss their project. I summarized the
concerns articulated here regarding silica sandblasting, and others, and
suggested that as a first step, they get the advice of a conservator who
specializes in antique cast iron. We offered to accept an increase in the
requested amount in their application to fund this.

The applicants then flipped out, shouted at us that we were petty
bureaucrats, withdrew their application, swore an oath to fund their project
another way, and stormed out of the meeting, while members of the CPC sat
gaping. 

So, here¹s my question. The Shaker cemetery is within the borders of the
Harvard Shaker Village Historical District. Our town administrator doesn¹t
think that the HC¹s jurisdiction trumps that of the Cemetery Commission. Is
this how you understand it as well?

I am trying to arrange a meeting of the two boards, facilitated by the Town
Administrator, hoping to create some sort of dialog and joint approach to
issues such as this. Honestly, though, I¹m not hopeful that this meeting
will bear fruit, as the Cemetery Commission seems to have some real turf
issues and not much sense about historical preservation. Plus, they are
bozos.

Opinions? Strategies?

--Jonathan



===============================================

Jonathan Feist, Chair
Harvard Historical Commission
978-772-4864 (home)
617-747-2148 (Berklee office)

Preserve Historical Harvard, MA:
http://www.jonathanfeist.com/Pages/HarvardPreservation.html

Blog: Writing about Music
http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com