[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter-September 30, 2019

[Skelly, Christopher (SEC)]

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER
Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
September 30, 2019

OCTOBER IS ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH
Organized by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) and the State Archaeologist, this is the 28th annual celebration of archaeology in Massachusetts. Archaeology Month features more than 60 events across the Commonwealth that promote awareness of the Commonwealth's rich archaeological past through fun and engaging programs.

Archaeology Month offers a variety of programs for adults, children, parents, and teachers. Programs highlight local history as well as archaeology around the world. Events include lectures, tours, exhibits, mock excavations, walking tours, chances to see behind-the-scenes in laboratories, and demonstrations; and will be held in the following communities: Acton, Adams, Amherst, Andover, Arlington, Billerica, Boston, Brewster, Bridgewater, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Concord, Deerfield, Duxbury, Eastham, Hamilton, Haverhill, Kingston, Lincoln, Lowell, Marshfield, Medford, Middleborough, Milford, Nantucket, North Adams, Northampton, Norwell, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Springfield, Sturbridge, Taunton, Waltham, Wayland, Wellesley, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn, and Worcester. Highlights include: an exhibit showcasing artifacts found through excavations during Boston's Central Artery project, numerous talks highlighting recent archaeological field work throughout Massachusetts, and a talk celebrating 60 years of archaeology at the Minute Man National Historical Park.

The Calendar of Events and Poster for Massachusetts Archaeology Month are available for immediate download at MHC's website:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcarch/arch_month/archidx.htm

SURVEY AND PLANNING GRANT CYCLE
The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) is starting the Fiscal Year 2020 Survey and Planning Grant cycle.   For the FY 2020 round, eligible applicants will include all local historical commissions, local historic district commissions, municipal planning offices, and other public and non-profit historic preservation organizations.  At the time of this writing total available funding for the FY 2020 matching grant round is still contingent on MHC's FY 2020 federal budget allocation, which has not yet been determined.  For FY 2020 the MHC/Grantee match shares will be 50/50.

As the State Historic Preservation Office, the Massachusetts Historical Commission is responsible for administering the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Offices, to grant funds to communities and private non-profit organizations for a wide range of preservation related activities. These include completion of cultural resource inventories, nomination of significant properties to the National Register of Historic Places, completion of community-wide preservation plans, and other types of studies, reports, publications and projects that relate to the identification and protection of significant historic properties and sites. The goal of the Survey and Planning Grant program is to support efforts to identify and plan for the protection of the significant historic buildings, structures, archaeological sites and landscapes of the Commonwealth.

With this announcement, the MHC is initiating the Fiscal Year 2020 grant round of funding for Certified Local Governments (CLGs), municipal historic preservation commissions, non-profit organizations and other eligible applicants.   (MHC is required under federal law to pass through 10% of its annual federal budget allocation to CLGs.  CLGs in Massachusetts are the municipalities of Boston, Bedford, Brookline, Danvers, Eastham, Easton, Falmouth, Framingham, Gloucester, Grafton, Hingham, Holyoke, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Medfield, Medford, Methuen, New Bedford, Newton, Plymouth, Quincy, Salem, Somerville, and Worcester.)  In Fiscal Year 2020 the grant program will be available to both CLG and non-CLG municipalities, as well as other qualified applicants.

A Survey and Planning grant can provide critical support for projects that help to preserve the character of your community. Please consider applying for a grant by completing a pre application and returning it to the Massachusetts Historical Commission by Monday, November 18, 2019, 5 p.m. (no faxed or emailed applications accepted).  Additional information, guidelines and the pre-application form are available on MHC's web site at: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhchpp/Surveyandplanning.htm

REGIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRAINING WORKSHOPS
If you are interested in hosting a regional workshop for local commissions, MHC staff may be available to present a workshop in your community. Typical topics include an Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning, Administering Demolition Delay Bylaws and Ordinances, Establishing Local Historic Districts, Preparing a Municipal Preservation Plan, Secretary of the Interior Standards and Local Historic District Design Guidelines, Benefits of Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation:  With or Without a Local Historic District as well as others.   Contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> for more information.

NEW LISTINGS IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Acton, North Acton Cemetery
Beverly, Beverly Powder House
Bourne, Cataumet Schoolhouse
Worcester, Duprey Building

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER
October 30, 2019
A Springfield Preservation Story: The Willys-Overland Building
Western Massachusetts Historical Commission Coalition Quarterly Workshop,
10am-12pm, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Springfield, MA
November 18, 2019
MHC Survey and Planning Grant Pre-applications due.  For more information, see above.

MHC RESOURCE MATERIALS
New local historical commission and historic district commission members can contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission for materials and guidebooks that might assist in your preservation activities.  Thank you for serving on your local commission.  Contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> for more information.

Please forward this newsletter on to others that may be interested.  If you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to receive it directly, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission.   The Massachusetts Historical Commission also has a listserve, known as masshistpres, specifically for historic preservation.  You can join this listserve by visiting http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__mailman.cs.umb.edu_mailman_listinfo_masshistpres&d=DwMFAg&c=lDF7oMaPKXpkYvev9V-fVahWL0QWnGCCAfCDz1Bns_w&r=HJeg5vlVssIJteBAzBVv1cKzUTA9hLUHuoJyFO6P0cU&m=yiRHsGceQh3cI6E2w5a9tnUp10dMSYdPmHHvmr670hY&s=zr1vpvBcqO_jjItdimCH8SpWoxFPfryQ4Km7YyloM0o&e=>.  This newsletter is posted on masshistpres directly and sent to local commission members.  We welcome your thoughts on what you would like to see in this newsletter.  The website for the Massachusetts Historical Commission is http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm

Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>

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