2009 Annual Report.pdf - Town of Milton

REPORT OF THE MILTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen, June 30, 2009
The Milton Historical Commission continues to maintain the goal of preservation
of historic places and structures in Milton. The year began with the initiative
by MHC Member Wallace Sisson to restore the Bay Colony Tercentenary
sign on Churchill’s Lane. The state highway department refurbished the sign,
and as of March it stands in clear view, marking this significant historic site.
The MHC continues to seek any other signs known to residents or town employees.
The historic plaque program successfully continues as well, and we
are currently working to establish new historic district signage.
In February, the Chairman, Meredith Hall, was invited to attend a meeting
of the Town Farm Study Committee. Upon the request of the Study Committee,
the MHC voted in April to write a letter to the Committee quoting from
the existing 1999 MA Historic Inventory document, urging the preservation of
the farm structures and their site. The MHC is hopeful for the preservation of
the farm structures as well as the surrounding landscape. Nominated by neighbors
of the property, The Milton Poor Farm is now considered one of the state’s
top ten most endangered properties by Preserve MASS, and eligible for National
Historic Register by the MA Historical Commission. In its Final Report,
the Town Farm Study Committee has recommended that the historic
structures be preserved.
In June, the MHC sponsored the First Annual Speaker Series, featuring Anthony
Sammarco. Mr. Sammarco spoke about the development of Milton, from
an agricultural town to a suburb and various periods of architecture in Milton.
In spring, the Commission also began discussing short and long-term goals, in
response to the Town-wide Survey by the Planning Board, whose goals currently
do not include reference to historic preservation.
The preservation work by Edie Clifford continues to be MHC’s most significant
contribution. There were 16 Massachusetts Historical Commission Inventory
submissions made to, and accepted by the MHC. The Commission is
also pleased that there were no significant demolitions of private property.
Lastly, the Milton Historical Commission wishes to thank John Cronin for
his tireless work in providing the written history of the original Milton High
School to be used in the interpretive signage soon to be displayed at the new
High School.
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