[MassHistPres] Mass. Bay Colony Tercentenary signs

[Britta Karlberg]

Almost all of the information you need to have your signs painted,  
repaired or replaced has been provided in this discussion.

Historical markers erected by Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary  
Commission (Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1930)  includes the  
lettering for each sign, and where it was originally placed.  The text  
of the law designating the Mass. Highway Dept. as responsible for the  
signs is also included.  Because the Commonwealth deposited a copy of  
the book in each public library it is easy to locate all the  
information you need by visiting your local library.  If your local  
copy has been discarded the librarian can borrow a copy for you on  
interlibrary loan.

The Massachusetts Highway Department is divided into five districts.   
Contact information is available at
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=dist/ 
distRoot&sid=wrapper&iid=dist/dist.asp

In Essex all three signs were in need of paint, but they were in their  
original locations.  Patricia A. Leavenworth of the 4th District  
helpfully placed me in contact with the correct staff person who  
followed up swiftly.  The 4th district sign maker has created a  
replacement sign for one which had disappeared from the  
Newbury/Newburyport town line.  One of the Wenham signs has not only  
been repainted, but the bullet holes has been filled.

These signs are a special interest of mine. If each local historic  
commission were to work with the highway department the signs could all  
be found (some have wandered into private hands, but are recoverable),   
replaced,  repaired or repainted as needed.  The signs are not only  
reminders of 17th century Commonwealth history,  but are historic  
artifacts themselves.

Britta Karlberg
Chair, Essex Historical Commission
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Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that  
you do it.
					Mohandas Gandhi
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