09/23/2021 HISTORICAL COMMISSION Minutes

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-2- Listing of all Town Clerks Nancy has worked on giving a complete list of all the Town Clerks in Mashpee to Deb Dami who requested them. Rosemary said that she worked on a list for all Town Employees for Daniel Mandell when he was writing his book, on Mashpee (Tribe, Race, History, 2007). Rosemary has been researching the Hessians, and Thelma Brice, Falmouth Historical Society, approached Rosemary, looking for Ann Fowler Sewalls, a person who worked for a Falmouth family, and she will pass on all the information that we have. Rosemary has done research on the 3 islands that are in Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, that were renamed every time that someone else bought them. Ava asked about the name of Keith Island. It was named for Eben Keith who bought that island and who owned a railway car construction business. Rosemary discussed the Boardley family who in the past owned one of the islands and also owned a tourist steamship business on the pond. That family are ancestors of both Brian and David Weeden. Richard has gone over to the islands by kayak. Rosemary discussed the Old Snake Pond Road which was straightened probably around 1910. She showed pictures from the Macmillan Collection which show the large curve in the old road which is no longer there. The road taking can be researched at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds or perhaps at the Planning Board. We were discussing two photos showing the curve in the road and two dwellings on the left-hand side of the road. When the road was straightened, one of the houses was probably taken down. Rosemary discussed adding to Historic District Records either National or State records. Ava said that Mashpee has an Historic District, but it is not registered. Brian Hyde stated that the purpose of the Historic District Commission is provide information to the Planning Board, but he said that registering our Historic District would be under the jurisdiction of the Town. Ava thinks this should be a major project for us. Rosemary thinks we should be researching the Trout Pond, Pine Tree Circle, Cannaways Field as this area is under discussion for the proposed Mashpee Commons new development, so people may come to us to find out more about these sites. Rosemary said she has come across three references re Cannaways Fields, and she will do more research. Richard wanted to know whether Pine Tree Corners or Pine Tree Circle. It was voted in the 1986 annual Town Meeting to be called Pine Tree Corners. Ava went to a recent history talk held at Southport at which Earl Mills was asked to speak. She spoke with Katy Acheson, the new Executive Director of the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce. Her thought was that MCOC would not be interested in the Trout Pond Cottage (building) for their needs, but if we needed her help, they might have contacts who could help us move the building. In 1998 the Schoolhouse was registered as a Historic Place. Rosemary said it was registered when it got moved up to the Meeting House site. Richard would like to put a plaque on the building. Rosemary gave us a record of the Grafton-Pocknet Burial Ground that we do not have in our files. It is located near the John's Pond and Moody's Pond area. We will add it to our files. We have not yet heard back from Ramona. Ava will find a way to get in touch with her to make sure she is aware of our wanting to present her with the 2019 Award for the Native Land Conservancy. We are looking at a gifts to mark the occasion of these awards.