2004-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Commission would like to thank Errol Hicks Report of the and Katherine Laurent from the Department of Public Historical Commission Works for helping make the little school ready for vis- itors. Also, special praise goes to Earl Mills, Sr. who has donated his time to plant herbs and flowers and has To the Honorable Board of Selectmen attached identification labels to each for teaching pur- and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: poses. He also donated two student desks of the period and a bell to call the students to class. Work The Mashpee Historical Commission has sworn continues on a teaching plan to incorporate the school to preserve, protect and maintain the historic and cul- as a teaching tool in the Mashpee school system. tural features of the town of Mashpee. To that end,the year 2004 was another successful year at the Archives Finally, the Commission thanks the people of and for the Mashpee Historical Commission. Mashpee who in 2004,contributed photographs,mem- orabilia and words of encouragement in our quest to In June, The Historical Commission accepted preserve Mashpee's history. Sisters Paula Webster with regret the resignation of Miriam Estrella after and Pat Leonard continue their diligence in organizing four years of service to Mashpee, and wished her well the vast vertical file of newspaper articles at the in her future endeavors. Her work on the exhibit mate- Archives. We are grateful to them for the time they rial and the Anna E. Tanneyhill collection pushes us spend and the enthusiasm in which they perform their duties. Jud Godin our computer genius still prepares closer to our goal of sorting and cataloging all of our Y P g P P collections at the Archives. the fields for our data bases, and enters data as well. Thanks to her we are nearing our goal to have our In December, the Board of Selectmen named records electronically available to our researchers. Sunny Merritt to the Commission. Mrs. Merritt brings considerable experience from her work as founder and In September, the Board of Selectmen appointed former president of the Mashpee Women's Club and Lois Wakefield-Perry to the position of clerk. As our has proven to be a valuable asset to Mashpee. She only paid employee, her work has proved an asset in joins our historian, Rosemary Burns, and Lee Gurney the every day managing of the Archives, and has given in accomplishing the Commission's work. the Commission more time to work on research pro- jects and other pressing matters relating to Mashpee's The Historical Commission notes with sadness history. the passing of Frank E. Hicks, our friend and twenty year member.For sixty-three years beginning in 1941, As always a special thanks to Frank Kelly, who he held nearly all positions in Mashpee government coordinates our capable team of volunteers at the including 27 years on the Board of Selectmen. His Archives. He has become a true researcher expressing work at the Commission was invaluable and his con- his love of Mashpee's history and cultural diversity in tributions immense. He donated many town reports, the hours he devotes to the Archives and to visitors. photographs and memorabilia to the Archives.Most of We extend our gratitude to the Board of all, he gave his time and recollection of past decades with enthusiasm and accuracy. His love of Mashpee Selectmen, who repeatedly shows interest in our was an inspiration and he was deserving of all the town's past and culture, and Town Manager Joyce accolades he received in his long and remarkable Mason for her appreciation and her support. career.His life sets the standard to our youth of what a Mashpee citizen should strive to be. Again, we thank the people of Mashpee who encourage us in our work to preserve the historic and In 2004, work continued on furnishing the cultural features of the town. We always appreciate restored South Mashpee School. A teacher's table, a your visits and comments. lantern,a bell and two desks all from the 1800's are in Place.Herbs and plants indigenous to Mashpee and the Respectfully submitted, Cape have been placed around the school grounds and Ann Whitlow, Chairman will be used for teaching purposes. A road has been Rosemary Burns forged and a path to the school has been cut that stu- Lee Gurney dents from Mashpee's schools and the public may Sunny Merritt walk to the original entrance and see for themselves Lois Wakefield-Perry, Clerk what education was like in Mashpee during the 1800's. 133