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Becket Historical Commission
October 20, 2010 7:00
Becket Town Hall
Present: Rob Gordon. Aaron Beatty, Harry Roff, Rita Furlong, Barbara Stuhlman
Secretary’s Report read and accepted.
Treasurer’s Report read and accepted.
Communications:
- Rec’d a thank you from Town of Washington’s HC for sending them a program from Mapleview Ballroom.
- Request from Planning Board for input on 640 Main Street building. We determined that there was no historical concern for that property.
- Request from Zoning Board of Appeals for input on a South Cove Drive for a garage addition. We determined that there was no historical concern for that property.
- Commonwealth of Mass communication regarding grant applications.
Old Business:
- Rob has been in contact with Theresa Mc Dougal requesting information on the Fred Snow house on same road. Rob sent information we have from the inventory.
- Discussion held on the HC Gift account. Rob favors giving maps and Walking Tour books to athenaeum. Rita and Aaron prefer to wait until a Historical Society is formed and let them be the recipient of the funds from sale of maps and books. Since the 250th birthday of the town (ducentquinquagentennial) is imminent (2015), it is expected that such a group will be formed in the near future. Either way, we need to spend the fund on appropriate projects soon as to empty the fund. The athenaeum has 140 copies and we hold an IOU for $140 from them.
- Railroad monument (BECKET sign) was discussed. Rita talked with Dave Bacon regarding the building of a suitable roofed stand for the sign in Ballou Park as the present railroad tie stand is leaning and is unsafe. We decided that natural posts and a cedar shingled roof would look fine. Dave will view the sign and make suggestions for it. We will hopefully approve a plan at our next meeting. We would use gift account funds for this project. Determinations include: Cost, height, finish, permit application, and whether or not to build a stone base.
- Aaron and Jennifer Beatty have completed a mock up of the large 4 x 6 sign. We will show it to the select board on Nov. 3. and hopefully get their approval. Rita will have us put on the agenda. While there, we should also get them to propose a committee to plan for the 250th .
- Rob continues to assist Kit Dornbush of County Road to do research for her home so as to be eligible for an historic marker. We have received from her, a picture and a deed, but no accurate date as to the age of the building.
- Rob will contact Peg Goss, former Library Director whether or not they have acquired a good scanner to copy historical documents that we could access. This project has been of importance to us for many years. If they have not, then perhaps the HC could purchase one with gift account funds. Aaron will also visit the athenaeum to see if they would cooperate with us regarding the duplication of historical documents that should be stored in both the athenaeum and the town hall for safety.
- Thus far, several projects to use up the gift account will be pursued. They are: Becket railroad sign, new “Pound” sign, scanner.
- Rob or Rita will contact Jeanne Pryor, former town clerk, to see if she will complete the computer inventory of burials in Becket. This information will be put on the town web-site for public access. The town clerk will add to this data base as needed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:14
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Furlong, Sec. Pro -tem
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