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<br /> Our collection of books and pamphlets on Mashpee and sound reasons: First,three historic sites are within the area;
<br /> on Barnstable County is slowly increasing. We are con- and second, we had reason to believe that artifacts might
<br /> stantly on the alert, especially for old and rare volumes be there because the historic sites — Sampsons Mill,Quip-
<br /> which are difficult to locate, but absolutely essential to a pish House and Simons House are definitely with the proj- w
<br /> library of information on the history of our area. Shelf- ect bounds. The developer readily agreed to a survey, and
<br /> space has been provided for the bound volumes of Mass- hired the University of Massachusetts Archaelogical Serv-
<br /> achusetts records which were formerly in the office of the ices to undertake the task. Members of the Mashpee His-
<br /> Selectmen. This collection consists of approximately three torical Commission spent two days during the month of
<br /> hundred volumes, some relating to 1692 activities of the March observing the archaelogical team at work.When the
<br /> Province of Massachusetts Bay. In addition to survey team returned weeks later to finish their work, an v
<br /> Massachusetts Reports, the collection includes Acts and unforseen disaster had taken place — five sites that had
<br /> Resolves, Public Documents, Special Laws, and Manuals been marked as "historically significant" had been bull-
<br /> of the General Court. dozed. The matter has yet to be resolved. The Massachu-
<br /> We are seeking historical documents that may present- setts Historical Commission has legal jurisdiction, and is
<br /> ly belong to descendants of some of the early Mashpee presently working out Preservation Restrictions on the site
<br /> families. We ask for donations of such documents — let- which the developer will be asked to sign.We will be kept
<br /> ters,diaries,copies of deeds,birth,marriage and death cer- informed of future developments.
<br /> tificates, photographs and other items. The Commission Recently the Commission has developed a "Position
<br /> will issue a"Deed of Gift" or"Deed of Loan" to any in- Statement"which is sent to developers who are scheduled
<br /> dividual or family willing to offer such papers to the to appear before the Planning Board,when we believe that
<br /> Mashpee Archives. One very significant gift of more than any site planned for development may be in an historic A
<br /> twenty-five documents relating to some of Mashpee's old area. „
<br /> families has already been received. We are now prepared At one of the member groups of the Cape and Islands
<br /> to preserve and appropriately file such papers.We take this Historical Association, we have participated in all of the
<br /> opportunity to appeal to residents of the town for papers, meetings and trips to historic sites and areas, including
<br /> books and other items as well as copies of old newspapers visits to Nantucket, Falmouth, Bourne, and the
<br /> that may have news about Mashpee.We are also searching Massachusetts Archives and Kennedy Library.
<br /> for Town of Mashpee Annual Reports pre-dating 1960, In April, we served as host for the Association, with a
<br /> and hope that a resident or residents will donate them to guided tour of the Old Indian Meeting House and Ceme-
<br /> the Archives. tery, and the Wampanoag Indian Museum, led by Han-
<br /> Activities related to burial sites are on-going. Ten such nah Averett and Hazel Oakley,who gave short talks about
<br /> sites have been recorded. We have photographs of these, the history of these Mashpee landmarks.
<br /> and in the spring of 1988 our major task will be to have A Vertical File is being set up in the archives, which will
<br /> the existing grave markers cleaned, the areas cleared of contain all the newspaper clippings relative to Mashpee.
<br /> obstructing brush and debris, appropriate enclosures This file will be a ready reference available for public use.
<br /> erected where necessary,and bronze markers placed at each The clippings presently go back at least fifteen yars, and
<br /> site. once organized will be kept up-to-date.
<br /> In continuing efforts to"preserve, restore and maintain We received a gift of the flag of the Commonwealth of p: ,
<br /> the historical features of the Town of Mashpee,"the Com- Massachusetts from Representative Thomas Cahir, and the
<br /> mission has been vigilant in an effort to keep abreast of flag of the United States, which had been flown over the
<br /> the developments which are rapidly encroaching on Capitol in Washington, D.C., from Congressman Gerry
<br /> woodlands that have historical significance, and which also Studds. These flags will be displayed in the Archives
<br /> have contributed for generations to the beauty of our land- Building. 3
<br /> scape. Commission members have monitoried the bi- We are investigating the Ockway Chapel: its original a _;
<br /> monthly meetings of the Planning Board, and on special location, the date it was built, and other pertinent infor- y
<br /> occasions meetings of the Appeals. Board. During public mation which seems to be elusive. We hope to restore the
<br /> hearings of the Planning Board, we have directed the at- Chapel and to have a written history of its origin and use.
<br /> tention of the Board and of developers to certain facts A print of the documentary film"Mashpee"was donated
<br /> when there is a possibility that Indian artifacts or an In- to the archives by the producer, Mark Gunning.
<br /> dian burial site may be within the perimeters of the pro- The workshops participated in by two or more Commis-
<br /> posed development. At such public hearings,the Commis- sion members included:the Preservation Conference spon-
<br /> sion has asked the developer to arrange for an archaelogical sored by the Cape Cod Planning and Economic Develop-
<br /> survey before proceeding with physical destruction on the ment Commission; a conference on the Preservation and
<br /> site. The developers have been cooperative. Care of Ancient Cemeteries, sponsored by the Barnstable
<br /> However, we note for the record, that in one instance, Historical Commission; and the Workshop of the Library
<br /> these efforts were in vain.Early in planning,we asked the Learning Resources Center of the Cape Cod Community
<br /> developer of the Fox Run/Willow Bend project to institute College.
<br /> an archaelogical survey of the area which spread over some
<br /> four hundred and ten acres.This request was made for two
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