[MassHistPres] gravesites and other structures

[Sullivan, Charles M.]

The Cambridge Historical Commission has historic district jurisdiction over one inactive cemetery, the Old Burying Ground in Harvard Square, and four parks, Fort Washington, Cambridge Common, Longfellow Park, and "Brattle Beach," a fountain on Brattle Street. We consider that all man-made objects within these areas are subject to our jurisdiction, and other departments acknowledge this.

We also have direct responsibility for maintenance of headstones and monuments in the cemetery, cannon and fences at Fort Washington, monuments on the Common, and an 1870 concrete block wall at Brattle Beach; ordinary maintenance is handled by DPW. We used to seek capital budget appropriations on an as-needed basis; now we have recurring annual appropriations of CPA funds which allow us to contract for ongoing work in the cemetery and on the city's bronze statues and plaques, wherever they are. We also funnel CPA money to the city's Cambridge Cemetery, which helps them restore fences, steps, walls, a receiving tomb, etc. (but no headstones yet). A little lubricant goes a long way to ensure smooth relations.

Charles Sullivan

__________________________________
Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Mass.  02139
617 349-4684 (direct line)
617 349-3116 (fax)


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Roseanne Saalfield
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 11:32 AM
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] gravesites and other structures

A few days ago I posted  a query about which Mass towns give their LHDCs the right to oversight of burial grounds within their historic districts. Chris Skelly suggested that I broaden my query to see which LHDCs exercise oversight over other structures within their historic districts. Some examples might include war memorials, statues, the old stone walls of an animal pound -we have one on our Common - and our old Powderhouse.

I have been told that Salem, for example, has a closed historic burial ground in one of its districts that is completely under the control of the historic commission. In the ideal world our town's Shaker Burial Ground would be treated as if it were the property of the Cemetery Commission and the CC would petition us - as any property owner would - before working on any grave markers or stone walls within that site. (That is patently not how their work in this burial ground is being handled now)

Thanks for your help
Roseanne Saalfield
Chair
Town of Harvard Historic Commission
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