Historical Commission
Princeton Historical Commission
May 18, 2023
Attendees: Tom Kokernak - chair, Matthew Lindberg, Larry Todd - clerk, Joyce Anderson
Not attending: Carl Soderberg, Gina Polewaczyk
Tom opened the meeting at 7:03 pm.
The meeting minutes of 4/27/23 were approved as written.
Budget: Tom reported there was no change in our two accounts during the past month; the donation account has a balance of $4021.78 and our general town funded account has a balance of $1340.
Civil War update: Tom worked with the Prtinceton town clerk to update our website so there will be a link to the QR code on the civil war pamphlet. He will let Carl know so the link can be completed.
There was discussion about using our current funding from the town and how to encumber funds if we do not have the pamphlets printed before July 1. Tom will check with the town accountant about this. Matt recalled doing this in the past and the process was quite simple.
Paupers’ Graves: Larry got a quote for a granite stone with lettering similar to the picture Tom sent of a marker in CT. The quote from Leominister Monument is $780 for the stone and $8.00 per carved letter. There will probably also be a charge for delivery and placement in a cemetery.
We discussed alternatives which may be less expensive, including a cast metal plaque or a wooden sign. Tom thought he could make a wooden sign in his own workshop which could be a historic house sign and possibly a sign for the poor house graves. He will work on this and send us his test sample.
House Plaque update: Tom is finalizing a document to guide people who want a historic house sign. The document will be available on our website. There was discussion of the history of the house plaques; Joyce could not recall the year the first historic house sign was made but she has sent to all a listing of all the signs which were made.
Disposition of old plaques and memorial stones: Larry gave an update of his research. There was a lot of information supplied by the New England Museum Association, but it was more than we need to consider if we just want to display a few carved stone fragments at the library. The cemetery commission and the library need to discuss this.
The gravestone fragments are currently stored in 5 gallon plastic pails inside two plastic caskets located behind the cemetery wall near the town tombs. Larry will check on these to be sure they are secure but also accessible as they have been in place for several years.
Larry said he has sprayed the poison ivy on the access path to the town pound and he will continue to work on this.
Joyce suggested the commission reconsider the creation of a national historic district for two houses on Worcester Road, #73 and #75; the Boylston House and the house to the immediate South, formerly doctor Howard’s home. Matt thought this had not been of interest to the owners and we thought Carl reported on this. Tom will put this on our next agenda.
The next meeting (remote) will be on Thursday, June 22 at 7pm. Tom may move this meeting up to allow time to finalize the printing of the Civil War pamphlets and have a vendor selected and a purchase order written.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Todd, clerk