[MassHistPres] town commons

[Betsy Hannula]

Out of the blue, the selectmen in our town of Westminster last month gave their approval to two different entities to put "things" on our town common - a park consisting of paved brickways and plantings, and a series of granite benches around the small bandstand.  Tonight the Historical Commission requested time to review these plans because the town common is part of our National Register Historic District, and the selectmen agreed to give us time.  (They didn't know we should be allowed to review any plans!)
   
  My question is - does anyone have good source material on the history of town commons that we could use to persuade others that the town common should be left in its natural state?  I fear it would become more like a city park than a town common.  
   
  Thanks.
  Betsy Hannula


Betsy Hannula
68 Harrington Road
Westminster, MA 01473

Tel. 978-874-0430