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Leverett
Massachusetts
Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
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Assessor: (413) 548-4945
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Historical Commission Meeting

Monday, August 3, 2026, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84806069184?pwd=IV1P3b3M5g9qYcb7ftZdSweh8Ss26q.1 - Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
A meeting of the Historical Commission

Meeting of Historical Commission

Members: (Quorum)

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

Also Present:

  • Bob Sieruta
  • John Sieruta

See original Agenda Draft Minutes * * *

Meeting opened: 7:15 PM

Meeting closed: 8:41 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Leverett Cemeteries

    • Cemeteries conditions assessment - Update on schedule for volunteer training and restoration work in North Cemetery.

      General Discussion...
      Carole reports that Beyond the Gravestone did repair work as described in their estimate in North Cemetery on 7/31/26. They wil return on 10/10/26 for a training open to local volunteers on how to clean and maintain gravestones. Unfortunately, Carole is not able to be there on 10/10. Pat Stowell, president of the Cemetery Association told Carole they were interested. Carole will ask BTG regarding supplies, tools and verbiage for a flyer/press release/ Lev Connects.

      Carole will reach out to Peter Stallybrass whether it might be possible to do a talk at the Leverett Library before the October volunteer training date. It would be great to inspire interest in the importance of regular care and maintenance of our historic cemeteries. Maybe on one of the nights the library is open late? a Thursday?

  3. Oversight of Historical Assets

    • Historic Properties - Field Library/Museum - Update on research and planning.

      General Discussion...
      At the beginning of the meeting Bob and John Sieruta appeared at the meeting and expressed their interest in being of use to help the committee formed to move forward on upgrading the Field Building for adaptive reuse. They asked specifically for the HC to share their contact information with Silas Ball.

      The HC discussed the fact that communication from the parties (Selectboard, Town Admin and former Ad Hoc Committee members) now working to write an application for CPA funding for the Field Building needs has not been forthcoming. We will request (Pat Duffy, SB chair, Margie and Maureen Ippolito) to please keep us in the loop as the application draft develops in order for the HC to be helpful.

      1. Final_Minutes_June_2026_meeting.pdf - These could not be in the usual digital format since the June 8, 2026 was corrupted due to an MWW server error.

    • Historic Signage - Historic Signage for Graves' Ironworks

      General Discussion...
      FONLS requested that the HC consider installing the previously designed road sign for the Graves' Ironworks, which was not originally among the first group of signs designated for installation. We discussed replacing the 'Federal Mill' sign with the Ironworks sign in this first round. It was suggested that we try to move forward this year on the rest of the signage which can be afforded within the 2023 CPA 'Embosied History/Historic Signage' grant in order to close it out.

      Viewing the text of the Ironworks sign, it was decided to take out the 'Installed' text dating the installation of the sign, which did not seem necessary to us. We will consult Pleun as to why it was included in case there is a protocol that we are not aware of.

      MOTION, moved by Susan Lynton, seconded by Anne Schuyler: Moved that we replace the 'Federal Mill' signage with installation of the 'Graves Ironworks' road sign in the first batch of historic signs to be installed.

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

      Will consult Pleun, who designed the sign on the elimination of the 'Installed (date)' text.

      1. Graves_Ironworks_baby_SMALL_2436___copy.jpeg

    • Slarrow Sawmill - Update on permitting and HPR 'amend & restate' process

      General Discussion...
      Susan Lynton brought to our attention the fact that the town has been in touch with the Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill regarding the process of restating and amending the HPR for the sawmill. The four members of the HC who are not recused (Anne Schuyler, Ann Tweedy, Carole DeSanti and Eva Gibavic) will need to be the ones to lead the research needed for a new version of the HPR in coordination with FONLS, and MHC and NPS, both of which will have their own requirements for Preservation Easements. Susan will share the communication she received with the rest of the HC before the September meeting.

  4. Historical Events

    • America 250 - Update on 'Witness To History' - America 250 historic signage - Leverett Embodied History

      General Discussion...
      The project is underway. The press release will be finalized and sent to local papers.

    • Graves' Ironworks - Update on Graves' Ironworks Discovery Tour w/ Southern New England Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology; experts interpreting mapping of Ironworks - Sat. 7/18/26.

      General Discussion...
      Susan M and Carole reported that the 'discovery tour' and consultation with the 15 attendees from the Southern and Northern New England Chapters of the Society for Industrial Archaeology on 7/18/26 was very informative. Many new observations were made at the site and in discussion over lunch at Carole's. Pleun led the tour of the Ironworks site and introduced the sawmill history, then Barry Black described the mechanics of the sawmill and Cynthia Baldwin shared the prospects for the future rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. The SIA participants appreciated receiving background information and maps ahead of the day, with questions we were asking them to help us answer. SIA SNEC are planning to write an account of the visit for their fall newsletter which includes many of the new discovery points brought to light about the site as a result of their expertise.

  5. New Business

  6. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Mon, Sep 14, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84806069184?pwd=IV1P3b3M5g9qYcb7ftZdSweh8Ss26q.1 - Meeting ID: 848 0606 91; Passcode: 254618
      2. Mon, Oct 19, at 7:00 PM "Historical Commission Meeting" -- Online and in-person at Town Hall Topic: Historical Commission Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84806069184?pwd=IV1P3b3M5g9qYcb7ftZdSweh8Ss26q.1 - 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