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<br /> town line. The project was abandoned because of the ex- documents is the Vertical File,assembled and coordinated
<br /> orbitant cost of replacements. by Commission member Marie Scalley. The Vertical File
<br /> 1 A representative from the Massachusetts Historical is a collection of newspaper clippings on Mashpee,its peo- .;
<br /> Commission met with us to survey the Ockway Chapel. ple and activities for the past fifteen years. This continu-
<br /> We discussed a proposal that could be made to the State ing file of clippings is arranged by subject and/or names,
<br /> Commission asking to have the Chapel and the Indian and is cross-referenced with a reader's index for easy
<br /> Cemetary-both of which are town property- declared a referral. k.
<br /> "small historic district." Insofar as we know, there is no Several residents have donated issues of Town of
<br /> other site within our town boundaries eligible or qualified Mashpee Annual Reports, to our meagre collection. We
<br /> to be an authentic "Historic District". Mashpee is one of are extremely grateful for these gifts. The Annual Reports
<br /> the few Cape Cod towns that does not have an area so have been bound in chronological order for the years
<br /> designated. Much planning is necessary. We have sought 1947-1987. There are others still missing, and we will be
<br /> the advice of a professional architectural conservationalist, happy to supply the dates of missing reports to interested
<br /> and are studying what might be done, the procedures in- individuals.
<br /> volved, and the funding necessary. Such a project would Another active file of current interest is the "Land
<br /> be of several years duration. The major obstacle appears Development" file, which contains information on all of
<br /> to be the fact that because Ockway Chapel is not on the the recent land developments in Mashpee as they have been
<br /> site of its original location, but was moved from South planned and developed in recent years. An adjunct to this
<br /> Mashpee,it might not be eligible for Federal"historic site" file is information on Planning Board hearings and deci-
<br /> designation. sions. A Commission member continues to attend bi- k
<br /> We were saddened in August,by the death of our belov- monthly Planning Board meetings.
<br /> ed and dedicated Commission member, Hannah Averett. September 11, 1988 marked the 25th Anniversary of
<br /> Her knowledge, wisdom and support were of strength to legislation establishing the Massachusetts Historical Com-
<br /> the Commission, and she is sorely missed. mission and local Historical Commissions. For this reason,
<br /> Major time and attention of Commission members have that day was selected for the opening of the Archives
<br /> been directed toward accumulating holdings for the Ar- Building to the citizens of Mashpee and the general public.
<br /> chives,and reviewing, documenting, filing and organizing Some of the old, significant documents relating to
<br /> a mass of materials, some of which were turned over to Mashpee's history were spread out on tables for review,
<br /> the Commission by the Selectmen and other municipal and a collection of early photographs of Mashpee people
<br /> departments for appropriate retention and storage. Other and buildings was also displayed. Two wall maps were
<br /> items have been loaned or donated by private citizens. Our placed in juxtaposition for easy comparison: the 1877
<br /> professional Archivist/Consultant has been extremely Cyrus Cahoon Map of Mashpee and the 1987 current
<br /> helpful in instruction and guidance in archival preserva- Town Map. Forty-five individuals visited during the"Open
<br /> tion,serving with us for eight days during the year. In ad- House,"and follow-up news stories appeared in the Enter-
<br /> dition, we have been fortunate in acquiring a volunteer - prise and Mashpee Messenger.
<br /> Ernestine Gray- knowledgeable about Mashpee because A"Certificate of Gift"and a"Certificate of Loan"were
<br /> of her native American background and life in the com- drafted with the approval of town counsel, and are present-
<br /> munity throughout her childhood and as an adult. She ly in use.We invite residents and friends to loan or donate
<br /> works closely with Commission member, Hazel Oakley, historical items of significance. Donors will receive the ap-
<br /> in identifying people and places in old photographs, and propriate acknowledgment.
<br /> is presently cataloging and maintaining our photo file. The Archives Building is currently open to the public
<br /> The Archives Building houses an ever-growing library, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM every Thursday. At least two
<br /> and is the center for all activities of the historical Com- Commission members are present to greet visitors, to
<br /> mission. During the year we have acquired more than fif- answer inquiries, and to assist in research. Between ;;ry
<br /> ty volumes on Cape Cod and Mashpee history, and September 11 and December 31,thirty-eight persons have
<br /> publications relating to Wampanoag Indians and other visited the Archives to do research, to read, and to view
<br /> native Americans of the Northeast. Outstanding in this our photographs collection and exhibits.
<br /> group is the now"out-of-print"volume, "Territorial Sub- We encourage the school children of Mashpee to use our
<br /> divisions and Boundaries of the Wampanoag, facilities for their school projects. We are continually up-
<br /> Massachusett, and Nauset Indians" by Frank G. Speck, dating our files on Mashpee town gevernment, historic 1
<br /> which has considerable narrative on Mashpee, and buildings, town projects, the institution of the water f
<br /> photographs of Mashpee residents from the early days. district,neighborhood associations, and are adding to our
<br /> Other volumes date to the early eighteen hundreds.These collection of books on history of Mashpee and its people.
<br /> acquisitions expand the research capabilities of the Ar- We, the members of the Historical Commission, feel
<br /> chives and are available to students and researchers who happy that we have been able to become a cadre of in- c'
<br /> seek historical information. terested individuals,concerned enough about the past,pre-
<br /> Bound copies of the Mashpee Messenger, from Volume sent and future of Mashpee,to give"hands on"volunteer
<br /> 1,No. 1, October 9, 1985 to December 1988, are in place. service to preserve that history. k
<br /> One of the most interesting collections among Archives
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