Please Join The
Maynard Historical Commission and Maynard Historical Society
For a House History Workshop
At the Historical Society’s March 26th Meeting
7:00 PM
1st Floor, Maynard Town Building
195 Main Street, Maynard, MA
On Monday night, March 26th, the Maynard Historical Society will provide a forum for three local homeowners to describe how they researched the history of their early 20th-century homes.
- Ellen Duggan will discuss her family homestead on Park Street, built by the family in 1924 and continuously occupied by the family since then.
- Lee Caras will describe her research on her family’s 1916 Joshua Fairchild Graham house on Great Road, including locally available source materials.
- Peg Brown will cover her Grant Street home, its origins as part of mill built and owned tenement worker housing ca 1903, and the eventual sale to the public of the homes in this classic neighborhood.
After the workshop the Historical Commission will announce several new programs and research tools to promote awareness and appreciation of Maynard’s historic areas and homes. These will spotlight historical sites, buildings and homes in Maynard through a Program of Markers, Plaques, and Certificates, Walking Tour Maps and MACRIS reference materials now available at the Library.
THESE INCLUDE:
A new program which provides for the purchase of:
- Historical Markers for important sites and buildings (by the Commission);
- Historical Plaques for Maynard homes built before WWII (by homeowners);
- Certificate Awards for noteworthy historic restoration or renovation of Maynard properties (by the Commission).
The Markers and Plaques will carry Historical Commission certification. They are intended for permanent attachment to the house, building or location to promote the historical importance of the structure for all to see. Samples will be shown at the meeting with application forms available.
At the meeting, the Commission will present the first Historical Marker, commemorating Riverside Hall on Main Street, site of Maynard’s first Town Meeting. It will be displayed at Gruber Brothers Furniture, current owners of the building, along with a photograph of the original building.
A new Walking Tour program highlighting the many historic properties in Maynard has been in development for the past year under Peg Brown, long time member of both the Historical Society and the Historical Commission (former chair). This work, now supported by a generous grant from the Maynard Cultural Council, will eventually consist of five separate tours with printed guides and maps, to be available at the Library and other locations in town. They will give townspeople and visitors reasons to spend more time in Maynard. TheseTours, and the Rail Trail when completed, combined with the many eating and retail establishments in town, should create a powerful economic boost for the Town.
The top new research tool is the recently-completed MACRIS database of Maynard structures and properties available for general use at the Library. This is Maynard’s section of the Massachusetts Cultural ResearchInformation System, which provides facts and photos of historic sites and properties. In time this will be accessible on the Historical Commission section of the town website.
The Commission has also developed a list of historically prominent properties in Maynard, which can be used as a tool for nominating new Historical Marker, Plaque and Certificate Awards, and for prioritizing the Commission’s efforts around preservation concerns. This list will evolve over time, and suggestions for additions are welcomed.
Finally, ANNOUNCING the launch of Maynard 2021
In just nine short years Maynard will reach the 150th anniversary of its incorporation. The Historical Society and the Historical Commission jointly announce the launch of a community wide focus on celebrating and planning for this major milestone in Maynard’s story.
For additional information, contact Dave Griffin, President, Maynard Historical Society (davebets@mac.com), or Jack MacKeen, Chair, Maynard Historical Commission (jmackeen@verizon.net)