Leverett Town Seal

Massachusetts

Leverett

Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Town Clerk: (413) 548-9150
Tax Collector: (413) 548-9666
Assessor: (413) 548-4945
Town Hall Fax: (413) 548-1035
Contact Us
  • Text size
  • A
  • A
  • A
Previous Meeting Next Meeting

Historical Commission Meeting

Monday, October 21, 2024, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
A meeting of the Historical Commission

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84806069184?pwd=IV1P3b3M5g9qYcb7ftZdSweh8Ss26q.1

Meeting of Historical Commission

Members: (Quorum)

  • Absent: Edie Field, Honorary
  • Absent: Carole Desanti
  • Absent: Ann Tweedy
  • Present: Sara Robinson, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Mareneck, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Lynton, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Anne Schuyler, at 8:00 PM
  • Present: Eva Gibavic, at 7:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Don Robinson

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:05 PM

Meeting closed: 9:10 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. CPA Letters of Support

    • LOS - RGT request for Letter of Support

      General Discussion...
      Eva w ould like the Historical Commission to give permission for her to apply for a MASS Trails Grant as representative of the Historical Commission as well as a representative of the Selectboard to support the Rattlesnake Gutter restoration effort. An 'Archaeological Project Notification Form' must be submitted for a Trails Grant application and only the applicants will be able to be allowed to review the archaeological information, so this would give access to both the Nistorical Commission and the Selectboard.

      It was decided that the Historical Commission's LOS for the Rattlesnake Gutter Project would focus on the 'Recreational' aspect of the proposal.

      MOTION, moved by Susan Lynton, seconded by Sara Robinson: Moved that the Historical Commission allow Eva Gibavic, as an HC member, to apply for a MASS Trails grant to support the Rattlesnake Gutter restoration in the name of the Historical Commission as well as in her role as a representative of the Selectboard.

      Pass: Aye: Sara Robinson, Susan Lynton, Eva Gibavic, Susan Mareneck. Not Present: Edie Field, Anne Schuyler, Ann Tweedy, Carole Desanti.

      1. Rattlesnake_Gutter_Rd_CPA_Application-Reduced.pdf
      2. Rattlesnake_Gutter_Restoration_Map_Reduced.pdf
      3. CPA_Letter_of_Support_Sample.docx
      4. To_the_Leverett_Historical_Commission_RGT_CPA_Prop2024_LOS_Req-.pdf

    • LOS - FONLS request 2024

      General Discussion...
      It was decided to put off the discussion of a LOS for the FONLS application for CPA funding until we could have a full discussion with all members present. Eva requested that clarification of accessibility aspects of the design for the property be included in any future proposal and discussion.

      1. CPC_2024-25.pdf
      2. Letter_of_support_request_from_Friends_of_the_North_Leverett_Sawmill10-1-24.pdf

    • LOS - LHS Request - CPA Moore's Corner Schoolhouse

      General Discussion...
      A question about accessibility was raised. Though it was stated that it would be ADA compliant, it is unclear where the expense to do so is included in the budget. The Historical Society will review and clarify.

      1. Leverett_Historical_Socitety_application_to_CPC_2024-Final_Version_9-30-2024-1.pdf
      2. Dear_Leverett_Historical_Committee_Members_LHS_2025-26_CPA_Prop_req.docx

  3. Conditions Assessment of Leverett Cemeteries

    • Update - Walk-through North, Moore's Corner and Chestnut Hill cemeteries with Leverett Cemetery Association

      General Discussion...
      The three cemeteries cited in the Historical Commission's allowance from Town Meeting to be appraised by a professional are undergoing preliminary evaluations by Historical Commission and Cemetery Association members. Visits to Moore's Corner and Chestnut Hill Cemeteries have been accomplished. North Cemetery will be visited on 11/2, 1pm. So far, we know that at Moore's Corner there are 14 gravestones we want to have appraised, some tree work needed and repair of the front stone wall of the tomb is needed as well. We have not complied the number of stones needing repair at Chestnut Hill yet, but there are trees threatening the edges of the cemetery on the west, south and north sides. The fencing is almost nonexistent in most places. The access is perilous.

  4. Historical Signage

    • Industrial History Markers - Signage for Chestnut Hill Mill

      General Discussion...
      The sign for the Chestnut Hill Mill has been installed where Ann Ferguson and Ann Tweedy discussed several months ago. It is the first marker of historic industry in Leverett to be installed. We will evaluate the height, readability, etc.. before installing others.

      The anchor that the Highway Dept. needed to put in to hold the post in place is c. $15-18/each. We should add that to our calculous for expense.

  5. Oversight of Historical Assets

    • Graves' Ironworks - Graves' ironworks Survey and Mapping

      General Discussion...
      Susan M. and Eva describe the process that led to the proposal to survey and create a base map for the Graves' Ironworks site on the two acres of town-owned conservation land now within the 4.5 acre 'Heritage Park & Nature Trail' area downstream from the Slarrow Sawmill. After thinking the survey should include only the immediate vicinity of the stone foundations of the forge and trip hammers, we have realized with the help of other skilled archaeological eyes that the whole 4.5 acres of land below the sawmill staring at the first diversionary dam, is sculpted to power the ironworks and other enterprises of the Graves' family such as the Graves & Colton Pail Shop now a residence at 29 North Leverett Road. since it is town-owned land, the historical Commission is the correct entity to lead the effort.

      MOTION, moved by Eva Gibavic, seconded by Susan Lynton: Moved that the Historical Commission endorse the application for CPA funding to scan the area with LiDAR by GeoNAV followed by research and field work to create a survey and base map of the landscape and features on the 4.5 acres below the Slarrow Sawmill along the Sawmill River by SWCA, Amherst Field Office, Christopher Donta, Head Archaeologist.

      Pass: Aye: Anne Schuyler, Sara Robinson, Susan Lynton, Eva Gibavic, Susan Mareneck. Not Present: Edie Field, Ann Tweedy, Carole Desanti.

      Questions arose about using 'ground-penetrating radar' and whether there might be toxic substances present left in the soil from the Ironworks. More research will be needed to answer.

      1. Graves_Ironworks_Mapping_LeverettCPA_Funds_2024-pdf.zip
      2. Warning_Archae_Site.docx

    • HPR - HPR for stone features

      General Discussion...
      Eva explained the background of the protection of the 'stone features' found on Laurel Hill during its evolution into a housing development. Sid Poritz had wanted to protect the features from destruction and gave the property where the features were located to the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust to protect. The 'Common Land' designated to protect the features under the auspices of RGT gave property owners a tax deduction. It is not open to the public. It is now proposed that RGT give the land to the Laurel Hill Association, a 501c3 non-profit of home-owners in the Laurel Hill Development. Before the 6-7 features are transferred to the LHA, Eva proposes that the Historical Commission put an Historical Preservation Restriction on the stone features.

      MOTION, moved by Eva Gibavic, seconded by Susan Mareneck: moves that the Historical Commission begin the process of putting together a Historical Preservation Restriction on the 6-7 stone features of unknown origin on Laurel Hill.

      Pass: Aye: Anne Schuyler, Sara Robinson, Susan Lynton, Eva Gibavic, Susan Mareneck. Not Present: Edie Field, Ann Tweedy, Carole Desanti.

      1. Mass_Historic_Commission_Review_Form.pdf

    • Properties - Update on - Slarrow Sawmill (FONLS); Moore's Corner Schoolhouse (LHS); 'Heritage Park & Nature Trail'(FONLS/Town of Leverett); Field Tavern (private); Graves' Ironworks (Town of Leverett managed by FONLS as part of 'Heritage Park' conservation area); Field Library/Museum (Town of Leverett in partnership with LHS)

  6. Leverett's 250th Anniversary

  7. Reports from Other Town Committees

    • Monthly Updates - Community Preservation Committee/ Selectboard/ Planning Board/ Affordable Housing/ Board of Health/ Recreation Committee/ Council on Aging/ Cultural Council/ Zoning Board of Appeals/ Conservation Commission.

  8. Embodied History - Timber Industry Video from February 2024 viewing to be announced

  9. New Business

  10. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Mon, Nov 18, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      2. Mon, Dec 9, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      3. Mon, Jan 13, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      4. Mon, Feb 10, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      5. Mon, Mar 10, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      6. Mon, Apr 14, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by SM

Minutes approved on Friday, Dec 6, 2024