FINAL
Present for the Historical Commission and attending the meeting were: Jane Slater, Chair, Steve McGhee, John Flender, Jim Malkin, Steve Flanders and Chuck Hodgkinson. Not attending were Lenny Jason and Barbara Armstrong.
The meeting came to order at 5:00 PM.
Middle Road stone wall restoration and original town hall plaque: Chuck H. shared a photo of the bronze plaque commemorating the first town hall built in 1844. The plaque will be set in a stone for the site’s Middle Road stone wall. The stone will be displayed at Town Hall before placing it in the stone wall. The Commission agreed to have a dedication ceremony on Thursday, June 16 @ 11:00 am on the town hall front lawn. Refreshments will be served.
Weights and measures cabinet restoration. Chuck H. explained the Community Preservation Committee voted to encumber $4,300 from its FY 2016 expense budget to help fund the restoration of the cabinet and weights. This brings the total available funds to $5,200 which will cover the restoration costs and any minor carpentry needed in the first floor conference room where it will be displayed. Mr. Flanders suggested displaying the restored cabinet and contents at next year’s Annual Town Meeting. The Commission thought this was a terrific idea.
Great House demolition: Chuck H. explained that the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust declined the opportunity to purchase the Great House. After inspecting the house the Trust thought the house has had too many modifications since it was built in the 1700’s. The effort to save the house would be a re-creation of the original house with a center chimney rather than a restoration of an 18th century historic house.
Summer Library Talk: Wednesday, August 10 @ 5:00 PM: The Commission was holding this lecture date for the MV Preservation Trust – to announce its acquisition and restoration plans for the Great House. Given the previously discussed decision, the Commission agreed to release the date so the Library could schedule a different lecture.
Other new business: The Commission discussed the need to possibly restore additional head stones in Abel’s Hill Cemetery. Mr. Flender agreed to survey the cemetery and report back to the Commission at its September meeting.
Administration: The April 7, 2016 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 14 @ 5:30 PM.
With no further business the meeting adjourned at 5:29 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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