[MassHistPres] Tercentenary Signs
jworden at swwalaw.com
jworden at swwalaw.com
Fri Oct 5 16:06:18 EDT 2007
There is one of these signs (metal) at the Jason Russell House in Arlington, which contains some erroneous information. In recent years the Historical Society moved it from a prominent corner location to a less obvious spot. I believe this is the only such sign in our Town (other markers were placed by local groups).
J. Worden
Arlington HDC
=====================
From: masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
Date: Fri Oct 05 11:00:03 CDT 2007
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 20, Issue 4
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Today's Topics:
1. UMass Amherst Campus on 10 Most Endangered Resources List
(Joseph S. Larson)
2. Commemorative state highway signs c.1930 (chris kennedy)
3. Fwd: Commemorative state highway signs c.1930 (GLFJL at aol.com)
4. Re: Commemorative state highway signs c.1930
(Sullivan, Charles M.)
5. Mass. Bay Colony Tercentenary signs (Britta Karlberg)
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 15:24:42 -0400
From: "Joseph S. Larson" <larson at tei.umass.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] UMass Amherst Campus on 10 Most Endangered
Resources List
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <006d01c806bc$376d56f0$9865fea9 at tbr3450>
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UMass Amherst Campus on 10 Most Endangered Resources List
AMHERST - The Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts has been
named one of the Bay State's "10 Most Endangered Historic Resources." The
list is compiled each year by Preservation Massachusetts, the state's
historic preservation organization.
The 244-year-old campus was named because of the university's failure to
fund a professional assessment of the campus's history and architecture. The
lack of appreciation for its historic significance has led to a failure to
maintain historic structures and the potential demolition of several key
buildings.
"As stewards of these historic buildings, the administration has an
obligation to the Commonwealth to preserve and protect them as they relate
to the history of the university, the campus and the town of Amherst," said
Jim Igoe, president of Preservation Massachusetts. "The campus's
architectural diversity is magnificent and should be embraced by the
University. Older buildings must be integrated into the growing campus."
In May 2007, the UMass Amherst administration announced its intentions to
demolish a number of historic buildings, including South College - built in
1885 - and West Experiment Station, built a year later. An organization
called Preserve UMass, comprising current and retired faculty, alumni and
others, formed to pressure the college to protect its historic buildings.
Twenty-three buildings are listed on the Commonwealth's Inventory of
Historical and Archeological Assets and still others may qualify, but no
attempts have been made to pursue additional historic register listings.
Also on the 10 Most Endangered List is Springfield's First Church of Christ
Congregational. Reduced membership and financial support have made the
building's future uncertain.
The other properties on the top 10 list are the Strathmore Mill in Turners
Falls; the Edward Hopper home and landscape in Truro; the Isaac Crocker
House in Marstons Mills; the Tremont Nail Factory in Wareham; the Dainty Dot
Hosiery building in Boston; the Jensen Homestead in Granville; the Castle
Hill Farm in Northbridge and the Bentley-Gallo Property in Princeton.
Now in its 14th year, the list of 10 most endangered resources has become an
effective tool for preservationists to focus statewide attention on the
condition of individual historic properties and their importance to
communities. Of the more than 100 historic sites designated as endangered
since the list's inception in 1993, fewer than a dozen have been lost.
This year's list was culled from nominations submitted by
preservation-minded groups and individuals throughout the state. Submissions
are judged by several criteria, including their historic significance, the
extent of the threat and the community's commitment to preserving the
resource.
Founded in 1985, Preservation Massachusetts (formerly known as Historic
Massachusetts, Inc.) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated
to preserving the Commonwealth's historic and cultural heritage.
Vicki Ritterband
Preservation Massachusetts
617-795-0180
Vicki Ritterband [vritterband at rcn.com]
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:31:24 -0400
From: chris kennedy <e-modern at comcast.net>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Commemorative state highway signs c.1930
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Message-ID: <9B8CF99A-491D-4962-B8B0-A469122E38A2 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
To all;
The Northampton Historical Commission is researching, for the
purpose of restoration, a Mass DOT highway sign erected c. 1930 which
was part of a larger state project to provide highway markers that
denoted historical events along well traveled highways. Does any
list member know the history of this program, commemorating the 300th
anniversary of the state. Specifically; is there a record in any
state archive that details the original locations of these state
signs and what the content would have denoted? Has anyone gone
through the same process as we? While traditionally these signs were
aluminum with raised letters, are sign is of plywood. Any help or
insight would be appreciated. Thanks,
chris kennedy
Chair, Northampton Historical Commission
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 03:48:30 EDT
From: GLFJL at aol.com
Subject: [MassHistPres] Fwd: Commemorative state highway signs c.1930
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Message-ID: <cef.1cc58feb.3437464e at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
These markers were a project of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary
Commission.
For a 2006 Boston Globe newspaper article on the Tercentenary Commission
markers in Essex County see:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/10/signs_of_the_times_are_fa
ding/
For a picture of one of our three Tercentenary Commission markers in Grafton
see:
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~history/grafton/longhousesign.jpg
And for the official sourcebook on these markers see:
http://www.biblio.com/details.php?dcx=62425513&aid=frg
The Tercentenary Commission marker at the Hassanamesit Nipmuc Nation
reservation in Grafton has been refurbished within the past two to three years but
even the Nipmuc Nation officials aren't sure by whom -- not by the town, maybe by
Mass Highway.
And the Nipmuc Nation Reservation is having an Open House from 12:00 Noon to
4:00 PM this Sunday as part of the Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming and
Footsteps in History program.
www.bv-heritage-homecoming.org/events2007.htm
John LaPoint
Grafton<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> See what's new
at http://www.aol.com</HTML>
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 08:21:04 -0400
From: "Sullivan, Charles M." <csullivan at cambridgema.gov>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Commemorative state highway signs c.1930
To: "chris kennedy" <e-modern at comcast.net>, <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
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The Tercentenary markers are now the responsibility of the divisional
offices of Mass Highways. Has anyone had any luck getting the state to
restore them?
________________________________
Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Mass. 02139
617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax
-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of chris kennedy
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 12:31 AM
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Commemorative state highway signs c.1930
To all;
The Northampton Historical Commission is researching, for the
purpose of restoration, a Mass DOT highway sign erected c. 1930 which
was part of a larger state project to provide highway markers that
denoted historical events along well traveled highways. Does any list
member know the history of this program, commemorating the 300th
anniversary of the state. Specifically; is there a record in any state
archive that details the original locations of these state signs and
what the content would have denoted? Has anyone gone through the same
process as we? While traditionally these signs were aluminum with
raised letters, are sign is of plywood. Any help or insight would be
appreciated. Thanks,
chris kennedy
Chair, Northampton Historical Commission
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------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 09:04:29 -0400
From: Britta Karlberg <bibliob at comcast.net>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Mass. Bay Colony Tercentenary signs
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Message-ID: <23be9ad799de42fc2cc9c66197bcf4de at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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
--------
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that
you do it.
Mohandas Gandhi
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