2019-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Report of the Historical Commission To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the town of Mashpee: The mission of the Mashpee Historical Commission is to preserve and maintain the history of Mashpee and to identify, evaluate, and protect its cultural heritage, historic records and properties. The Mashpee Historical Commission (MHC) is located in the Mashpee Archives building at 13 Great Neck Road North and is open to the public Mondays and Thursdays 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. between Memorial Day and mid December. We encourage you to come and learn more about Mashpee History. Ann Graham the Senior Clerk of the Archives and Historical Commission is available to assist visitors when the Archives is open. The MHC meets on a monthly basis and our agendas are posted in the Town Hall and on our web site. Special sub -committees have met several times each month over the past year. These sub -committees include the Historical Signage Site Project, headed by Chairman Ava Costello, is in the process of finalizing its work to create permanent informational markers to be placed at historical sites, including the pond, lakes and rivers. Commissioner Rosemary Burns Love continue her tireless research and is helping finalize the data for the Signage Project. Funding is provided by the Community Preservation Act Committee. The War Memorial Project, headed by Commissioner Richard DeSorgher, with funds provided by the Community Preservation Act Committee is in the final stage of preparation. Brian Hyde continues as the Commission representative to the Community Preservation Act Committee and the Historic District Commission. Commissioner Joan Tavares Avant will be representing the Commission on the Town Seal Redesign Committee. Commissioners Richard DeSorgher and Nancy Soderberg serve a docents for the One -Room Schoolhouse. Commissioner Soderberg and Senior Clerk, Ann Graham, are working on updating our catalogue of materials. 2019 was another busy and productive year for the Mashpee Historical Commission as we continued to co-sponsor with the Mashpee Public Library a monthly series of historical presentations from February to June. The presenters were: Paula Peters, a local historian who spoke about the events reported in her book, Mashpee Nine; Woods Hole biologist, Anya Suslova, discussed climate change and the impact on native rivers and species; Barbara Berenson, a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court attorney, discussed her book Massachusetts in Woman Suffrage; Mashpee resident, Steven Kramer, recounted his father's World War II Army Air Corp experiences and the last presenter was Dr. George East, a resident of Wilson's Grove, discussed "An Illustrated History of Wilson's Grove" development from thel930's to the present by using his extensive slide collection. Attendees, from Mashpee and other Cape communities as well as some from "off Cape," ranged from 30 to 100 attendees per session and many shared their personal or family recollections during the discussion periods. The presenters' books and DVDs have been added to the Historical Commission's holdings and are available for research purposes. All materials must remain in the Archives building when being used. During May, six Quashnet School third grade classes, approximately 120 students with chaperones and teachers, visited the Mashpee One -Room School House located in the Community Park grounds. The students experienced a 1851 school day led by School Master Richard DeSorgher and School Marm Nancy Soderberg. The scholars tried writing in script with a goose quill and ink, did ciphers on slates, and learned about the school's history as well as some of the students who had attend the school. In 2019, the Historical Commission continued our mission to preserve Mashpee history by petitioning the Community Preservation for funding a new Veterans' Memorial to be located in the Community Park. The funding was approved by the citizens of Mashpee at Town Meeting. This memorial will honor all from Mashpee who served during times of war starting with the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and 11, Korean and Vietnam. Extensive research by Commissioner Richard DeSorgher utilizing archival records, military, state and federal enlistment records, death records, town reports, pension records and Tribal records. Mashpee veterans from recent and current conflicts in the Middle East will be compiled and added to the Veterans' Memorial when those wars are ended. The current list of the researched veterans (250) was posted and updated at the Town and Historical Commission website for the public to review and correct. www.mashpeema.gov/Historical-Commission. A fall 2020 dedication of the monument is being planned. 136