Historical Commission
Princeton Historical Commission
December 22, 2022
Attendees: Matthew Lindberg - chair, Carl Soderberg, vice-chair, Larry Todd - clerk, Tom Kokernak
The meeting opened at 7:03 pm.
The meeting minutes of 11/17/22 were approved as written.
Matt opened the meeting; the commission needs to write an annual report of their activity during the past year. Tom offered to write a draft for review before it is submitted to the town clerk.
Matt asked what we have as priorities for the coming year.
The dedication of the civil war plaques,
Carl asked about the status of the proposed national historic district which would include the Boylston Estate; following discussion we decided not to revisit at this time.
Larry suggested we spray the poison ivy at the town pound in the spring and perhaps plan an activity once the access is clear. Tom offered to help with this.
We had spent some time in the past year discussing the paupers’ graves in town. Tom has done a good deal of research and he would like to get together with Joyce Anderson to compare notes on the burials in several cemeteries before the commission considers a suitable marker.
Carl asked if the graves of slaves in Meetinghouse cemetery are identified with names and should we look into some recognition for them.
Matt asked if someone else could become the chair of the commission in 2023. Tom said he will serve as chair when the time comes to reorganize the commission in the spring.
There was a brief discussion of the house plaques; Tom and Carl are still working on their house research. Carl did some reading and said Henry David Thoreau in his walk to Wachusett in July of 1842 observed selttlers working on a building along the road in Princeton. Since the road is the present route 62 and the time of construction roughly coincides, Throeau may be referring to Carl’s house. We are not sure this should be included on the house plaque.
“ But special I remember thee,
Wachusett, who like me
Standest alone without society.”
The next meeting of the Princeton historical commission will be on Thursday, January 19, 2023. The meeting will be remote.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Larry Todd, clerk