HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-13 Historical Commission MinutesJ� OFq�O
Town of Reading (t E)VED
Meeting Minutes TO t4 4 CLERK
Board - committee - commission - Council: '��25 OC t 12 RM 7 36
Historical Commission
Date: 2023-09-13 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Virginia Adams (VA), Pam Adrian (PA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah
Brukilacchio (SB), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and
Christine Keller (CK)
Members - Not Present:
Samantha Couture (SC)
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller
Topics of Discussion:
PD called the meeting to order at 7:02PM. PD appointed VA a voting member for the
evening.
25 Haven Street:
SC to draft verbiage for a historic plaque for the building, which would be provided to
Farouk Yousef, the architect for the new owners of the historic building.
MBTA Communities Law:
ADF met with Mary Benedetto, Town of Reading Senior Planner, to select post cards and
photos of large buildings around Reading Square, which were scanned by Amanda Beatrice
(AB). The next MBTA Communities Law meeting is September 19.
Fall Street Faire (September 10. 2023):
The RHC shared a booth with the Reading Antiquarian Society (RAS) at the Street Faire. The
theme of the RHC display was preserving Reading's History. There were three inquiries from
the Street Faire.
1. A neighbor near Mile 12 marker on Haverhill Street reported that the paint was
peeling off the sign. SB will contact the DPW to have it painted.
2. A Reading resident asked about the change of house numbers for their property at
132 Village Street.
To help answer one of the inquiries, VA brought the 1936-1937 typewritten report which
details the house number changes to our meeting. There are two volumes of this report,
and VA has two copies. A complete set is available In the Archive. ADF will ask AB to scan
the report, so that we can share the information with Jocelyn Gould at Reading Public
Library (RPL).
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VA has generated a "checklist" for the RHC to use to prepare for future exhibits. There was
discussion about getting a new, weatherproof RHC banner for exhibits.
CK suggested that the RHC have its own booth at the 2024 Street Faire. The extra space
would offer more space for RHC to interact with the public, particularly about the distinction
between RHC and Historic District Commission and the House Marker Program.
New Resident Open House at RPL (October 3. 2023):
PA and CK will represent RHC at this event. We will have a copy of the Historical and
Architectural Inventory and RHC brochures available at our table.
Memorial Park plague:
The stone wall at Memorial Park has been repaired, and the plaque has been installed in its
original position.
Cumminas Properties/Cummings Community Givina•
Cummings Properties has offered a $1,000 contribution to the RHC, which will be added to
the "Donat Hist Comm" account.
Celebration Trust Membership:
SB has volunteered to represent RHC on the Celebration Trust. JEB made the motion to
appoint SB as RHC representative to the Celebration Trust, PD seconded, vote 5 -0.
Reading Arts Fundraiser (October 14. 2023):
RHC will have a booth. VA will set up a booth duty signup sheet. Details of the display to be
discussed at our next meeting.
Viroinia Adams documents:
VA has files of RHC correspondence from 1985, which cover a range of Issues the
commission dealt with at that time. She would like to relocate files to the Town Hall, to a
spare filing cabinet, so that they could be digitized. ADF will discuss with AB.
Postcard donation:
Joyce Benson of Boulder, CO has offered a 1906 postcard of the New High School, Reading,
MA (now the Schoolhouse Condominiums on Sanborn Street) to the RHC. ADF made the
motion to accept the donation, PD seconded, vote 5 - 0. CK to send a letter of
acknowledgment to Mrs. Benson.
America250 committee:
The RHC has no information about Reading residents participating in the Boston Tea Party,
which will have its 250th anniversary on December 16, 2023. The RAS has an event planned
for the celebration.
Discussion about participating in a Reading America250 committee was postponed.
186 Summer Ave.
The Commission reviewed the status of any discussions with Criterion concerning its
intentions and efforts to market the property, and the need to revisit the parties' obligations
under the Preservation Restriction Agreement for the historic property. JEB will review the
conditions and timing to request that the RHC be added to an upcoming Select Board's
meeting agenda.
RHC Inventory/MHC Inventory Reconciliation: nothing to report
Archive software and archivist: discussion postponed.
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Gladys Sias (1905-1996) RMHS diploma: discussion postponed.
Gilman Parker/Hospital Trust Fund: discussion postponed.
House Marker Program:
Three house markers have been delivered from our supplier to Town Hall. AB to contact the
homeowners to pick them up. PD and AB are looking at ways to improve the House Marker
Program.
RMHS collaborations:
SC has contacted Mr. D'Entremont and Ms. Allison about collaborations with RMHS classes
this fall.
Audio Tapes from loan Feeney:
The RHC received an online inquiry from loan Feeney, an RMHS graduate, about donating
audio tapes to the archive. Ms. Feeney's mother was a 1934 graduate of RMHS. In the
1990s, she and some friends interviewed fellow RMHS classmates reminiscing about
growing up in Reading. PD will call Ms. Feeney to learn more about the tapes.
Future agenda topics:
• New sign for display booth
Finances/Treasurer's Report:
JEB reported that the RHC had encumbered funds from FY23 available to spend in FY24. The
$1,000 donation from Cummings Properties/Cummings Community Giving will go into the
"Dont Hist Comm". Budget reports from the Town were reviewed.
Review of minutes:
• Minutes from 7/12/2023 as amended. CK made the motion to approve, ADF
seconded, vote 5-0.
• Minutes from 8/16/2023 as amended. VA made the motion to approve, JEB
seconded, vote 5-0.
• Executive Sessions minutes: Nothing to report.
8:52PM PD made the motion to adjourn, JEB seconded, vote 5 - 0.
Next meeting: October 11, 2023, at 7:o0PM Town Hall
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