HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-07-16 ad Hoc - Bicentennial Commission Minutes Minutes July 16,1975.
The Reading Bicentennial Commission met at 8 pm on July 16 at the
Reading Public Library with all nine members present . The minutes of the
`/eeting of 25 June were accepted as distributed.
1Ers. Miller reported that the Daddario group was meeting regularly,
allotting special tasks each time, a:.id the+ have begun visiting historic
taverns in ot'ner towns.
Additional heritage trail plaques have been ordered. Mr. Dunn has
agreed to have 81 Ash at . marked. His initial refusal was due to miscon-
ceptions which Mrs, Miller was able to dispel. A:rs. Querolo, 572 Haverhill
St , is anxiously waiting her marker. Apparently she is now satisfied with
the date determined for the house.
A lebter from Liberty Tree Mall about taking part in an event there
will be answered explaining that Reading is not taking part in any commercial
events.
The Massachusetts Bicentennial Comml98Jon asks for September, October
and November scheduled events for the state calendar. Mrs. Calabar or Dr.
Blanchard will comply.
The national Wagon Tr$in will be in this area in 1976 and towns
Interested in scheduling stops should indicate that interest . The public
events co-chairmen said that a Youth Weekend, under Leslie Fuller, with
cooperation of Campfire, Boy & Girl Scouts, Is scheduled for 15 May 1976 and
the wagon train might well fit in then, or possibly during the May 29th
4Wtivities.
The Schools bicentennial actiVitlea will include two teacher work-
shops presented by ;sirs. Barclay In October. It has been suggested the field
house or gym might be used for displays during the May 29th program. For
a contribution by the students toward a lasting project an information booth
for handouts might be built by the manual training students. For the new
park or playground there might be a walk, perhaps for plantings.
The new park project was approved by Town Meeting and an initial
amount budgeted to - begin it . A proposal for a matching Bicentennial grant
request for the new 11-acre Batchelder Field Is being prepared. The plot
plan shows provision for parking, Little League, tots area, and the horse
rings. The 4H group is furnishing volunteer labor for the latter. The
Commission unanimously endorsed the Park as meeting the Horizons portion
of Bicentennial goals.
David Biette said that he took the piece (re availability of Bicent-
ennial flags under new regulations) to the Chronicle but it has not been used.
He has enlargements of the pictures (from the '•:arch flag raising) and has
slides.
Mrs. Miller reported that the cassette/recorder and the Wollensack
slide projector had been ordered, and toe projector received already. A
number of suggestions have been made for additional slide/tape programs,
�c1 as a tour of the Parker Tavern, and Mrs. Barclay 's heritage tour.
ulatlons for custody and use of the equipment must be drawn up: where
and how to store It , who may use It , under what terms and conditions, etc.
Terms should be t'ee sane as for the Oral history project where tapes and
z) ib9�� 7s
transcripts become part of t'ne local history collection of the Reading
Public Library, under authority of the Board of Trustees or Library
hector, and made available for Individual or group use at tt;e discretion
f the Library Director. Details a+111 be worked out with approval of legal
counsel. In the meantime the Librarian has authority to loan equipment
only to groups endorsed by the Bicentennial Commission who are creating
program material for the Commission. Currently this includes only the
Oral History and the Taverns project groups.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to the gOestion of the
establishment of a Reading Historical Commission and the proposal to use
the Reading Depot for a new heritage museum. Mrs. Miller said she was
Informed that the Historical Commission-Heritage Museum is a fact. The
depot is now being repaired by funds under the CETA program, and as of now
the Selectmen will have an article for a Commission in the warrant for the
next town meeting. This Commission will surely be as'.ted for Its reactions.
After considerable discussion the Commission came to the conclusion
ti-at insufficient detailed infor,.ation on the museum proposal ( no real
data in fact ) has been presented to date. And as to an Historical Commission
t '.;e Bicentennial Commission recommends further study of the purposes and
duties of such an historical .commission should be made In order to avoid
any duplication of existing historical authority and efforts.
Dr. Blanchard reported that Richard Chesley, president of the Jaycees,
Is coordinating the service clubs plans, and that an unofficial business
group is thinking in terms of a voluntary business face-lift for the Square
4b� a Bicentennial project . A most weloome Idea .
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 pm. to meet again on Wednesday,
August 20th.
Eleanor C. Bishop
Secretary