[MassHistPres] town commons

[Mitchell Mulholland]

A few years ago, the Department of Conservation and Recreation with 
Walter Cudnohufsky & Associates (WCA) conducted a study of 20-plus town 
commons across Massachusetts. UMASS Archaeological Services conducted 
the archaeological portion of this study. You may find what you are 
looking for in this document. The study dealt with cultural resources 
within town commons, including their archaeological content, and how 
best towns could manage and improve them. I would contact Wendy Pearl at 
DCR for info: Wendy.Pearl at state. The E-Mail addresses I have for WCA 
are:  walt at wcala.com, and  wca at crocker.com.
Thanks
Mitch Mulholland
Director
UMASS Archaeological Services
413-545-1626

Betsy Hannula wrote:
> 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
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