Brookfield Historical Commission seeks assistance

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

BROOKFIELD – This town’s historical commission has announced the need for volunteers who are interested in indexing, filing, and genealogical research, this to include Revolutionary and Civil War records, and re-typing short documents and essays into electronic media for the commission’s files.

“If you’re not interested in office work, but would like to indulge in some outside work and a healthy workout, such positions are there for the taking as well”, a commission announcement states.

A spokesman for the commission, Ron Couture said, “We need help in cleaning brush and leaves from the area around the town pound and other historic markers and sites. Members are needed, but you don’t have to be a member to help out for a few hours.”

The town historical commission, Couture said in an interview, is nominally a seven-member commission, but currently consists of five members. “Not all members can attend all meetings, though; it’s not unusual to have to cancel a meeting or postpone decisions until a full membership is present”, Couture remarked. “We’d like to have more members, but that could, in the future, pose a problem as well. The new open meeting laws are much more stringent. It’s difficult in a small town to get people to serve on these committees. In order to meet or vote, a quorum must be present.”

According to information on the Massachusetts Historical Commission website, local historical commissions were formed in 1963. According to Couture, interest grew during the country’s bi-centennial observances in 1976. The original intent, according to state charter, was to take inventory of the historic aspects of each town. “That’s an ongoing thing, of course. And once begun, projects develop and grow.” He cited as an example this town’s eight year cemetery project. The historic cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 2001; the historical commission is still working jointly with the cemetery commission on cemetery-related projects.

The historical commission has many responsibilities, especially when working with Community Development Block Grant projects, the official said. “If federal funds are involved, a letter of agreement from the commission regarding projects is required. We have to deal with subjects such as keeping the little green space between the sidewalk and the street, and now there’s a new common committee as well. Any proposed change to a historic landscape is carefully scrutinized.”

Couture remarked that committee members frequently serve on several boards and committees, and there appear to be some nonsensical or inequitable numbers when it comes to a committee’s function. He cites a local access committee of nine members as an example. “I can’t believe there’s that much for them to do,” he said.

However, returning to the subject at hand, he stated that at present, his commission is currently interested in attracting volunteers to assist with the work mentioned above. “This year, with the Quaboag Plantation 350^th celebration attracting people from across the country, we’d like to present a good, cared-for appearance, and visitors interested in research will benefit from improvements in our record keeping.”

He mentions as an example the planned visit of members of the Woolcott family association, who are traveling from various points across the country this summer to visit the site associated with their ancestor, John Woolcott, prominent in the second settlement of the Quaboag area in 1685. They plan to spend several days exploring the town and the Quaboag area, he commented.

Residents who are willing to assist in these projects or are interested in serving on the commission are asked to contact Ron at 508-867-4465, or the selectmen’s office at the town hall, 508-867-2930 ext. 10.