HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-04 Historical Commission MinutesReading Historical Commission
May 4, 1999
Attending: Clay Jones
Roberta Sullivan
Wilbar Hoxie
Louise Sandberg
Ann Krieg, town planner
Sharlene Santo
David O'Sullivan.
Mark Cardono
Called to order at 7:30
1. Introductions: Commission, Ann Craig, town planner, and Sharlene Santo.
2. Mass Historical wants to use our demolition delay bylaw as an example for
other commissions.
3. Deer Run, 379 Haverhill St., the Hartshorn house, is up for a CPDC hearing for
subdivisions. Comments and recommendations: The new road should be no greater
than 24 feet wide. A snow fence should be placed around the property to protect the
vegetation during construction. The driveway should be as far north and east as
possible away from the house. The commission prefers that the sewer easement not
go to close to the house, the first manhole (manhole 1) to be closer to Haverhill
St.(about 50 or 60 feet) on the new road. The commission requests that during
excavation, care should be taken in the event of the discovery of artifacts or the
remnants of other structures (i.e. a well, outbuildings, or other houses) in lot one and
two and the roadway. If such things are found work must stop and the commission
notified. Native American artifacts are protected by law. The developers suggest that
the existing county bound be replaced with metal bound cover.
4. Lob's Pound Mill: The town is delaying the grant application to develop the
Ipswich River area with the intent of purchasing the property that is imperiled. There
are a number of pieces of stone that came off the bridge during construction. The
commission feels the granite should be stored or used on the property.
5. Pearl St. Barn will be torn down. The commission does not know if the barn will
come under the delay bylaw.
6. Virginia sent a thank you to Sean Corcoran of the Advocate for his series of
articles on Reading history.
7. The Patriot's day walk was a great success ( 2 days, 70 people). thank you
notes sent to both Will and Kim and the Cool family.
8. Preservation Trust: Money was allocated for both the map and the computer;
Mark was named the new chairman of the Trust. The bill for the map is $882.
9. Senior Center roof debate: Peter and Virginia have talked. She has been
trying to get another contractor in.
10. Processing of the Foster-Emerson Collection. Roberta suggested that all
members contribute their own material to a new collection.
11. Clay moved that we pay South parish Builders & Designers $950 for their
services and drawings of the Foster-Emerson House per proposal of March 27, 1998
from the Special Fund. We have received the drawings. Approved 5-0-0.
12. Treasurer's report: $491.23 in account. Special account; $1815.12. Two
donations to go to special revenue. $11.57 to Louise for expenses from the general
fund. Still some money to spend before the end of June. We need an accounting of
what was spent from the trust. Special meeting May 18 devoted to organization of
Foster-Emerson House papers.
13. Roberta requests a transcribed record for the archives, of the Town Meeting.
14. Roberta also requests a more attractive voting sign for the Common.
Downtown steering committee and Sally Hoyt should be contacted about it.
15. Moved to purchase the book by Abbot Lowell Cummings' The framed houses
of Massachusetts. Approved.
16. Adjourned: 10:05 6-1-99 approved as ammended, Louise Sandberg,
Secretary. J