2011-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

a Report of the Following final review by Commissioner Burns, the final report prepared by Public Archaeological Historical Commission Laboratory, Inc. of Pawtucket, RI was received in December, completing a two-year contract to identify To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens known and potential pre- and post-contact of the Town of Mashpee archaeological sites in Mashpee, to develop maps of archaeological sensitivity with user guide, and to The Mashpee Historical Commission maintains develop management recommendations for protection the Town Archives at 13 Great Neck Road North and is of these cultural resources and sensitive areas by State open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and local agencies. This study was funded by the from April through December. The mission of the Community Preservation Act Committee in 2007 to Commission is to preserve and maintain the history of develop a comprehensive cost-effective plan for future the town of Mashpee and to identify, evaluate and town development in culturally sensitive areas. protect its cultural heritage, historic records and properties. Gordon Peters also continues documentation on the photograph collection of people,places and historic In September it was with sadness that the structures in Mashpee. commissioners accepted the resignation of Chairman Lee Gurney after 8 years on the Commission,6 of them Professional recommendations and services are being reviewed for restoration of the town's copy of the as chairman, providing dedicated curation and preservation of town documents,donated artifacts and 1858 Walling map of Cape Cod and the Islands.This rare map can be viewed in few locations in the state and photographs. Three new commissioners Joan Tavares its planned restoration and display will make a Avant, Brian Hyde, and Nancy Soderberg were substantial contribution to the Archives historic map appointed between June and December and Nancy Soderberg was voted chairman in September. One collection. vacancy still remains on the Commission Board. Clerk Ann Graham is completing media transfer Frank Lord continues as School Master and of VHS cassettes to DVD-ROMS that document President of the Mashpee One Room Schoolhouse significant events in Mashpee and Barnstable County as Preservation Council conducting tours of the 1831 well as presentations of the Historical Commission, School House describing its history and relocation,the She also continues to scan historical photographs in the life stories of the children enrolled in 1901, and Commission's collection,building a digital library for evolution of Mashpee from District to incorporated future use and distribution. Scans of donated Town. Through coordination with teacher Susan photographs are being used in Cape Cod historical Schreiner, several groups of Quashnet School students calendars and by the Boston Children's Museum toured the schoolhouse and the Indian Museum in late current exhibit "The Global Gallery - Native Voices: spring. The Schoolhouse will reopen by appointment New England Tribal Families." in April 2012 with official summer opening following Memorial Day Ceremonies,despite construction in the During 2011 approximately 100 visitors from Archives building. Not requiring electricity, the across the country, Canada and the Netherlands toured Schoolhouse continues to function as it did in 1901! A the Archives and Schoolhouse, some with childhood Plexiglas case is being constructed by students of memories of and questions about Mashpee history. Mashpee High School teacher Kevin Blute using his Many had been urged to visit by Mashpee relatives. ShopBot to contain the "to-scale" replica of the schoolhouse for display in either the public or In 2011, under the Capital Improvement Plan recommendations of 2010, the Community Quashnet School library. Preservation Act Committee approved funding for Rosemary Burns, Historian, continues research structural renovations to the Archives building on questions posed by students and archaeological constructed in 1966 as the Town Library. Requests for researchers, town's people,reporters,fellow historical bids for renovation plans and for construction were commissions and visitors about family histories and advertised in October and BLW Engineering, Inc.of homesteads, historic uses of buildings and sites in the Littleton, MA with extensive experience in archives town. 102