The Historical Commission's Mission
New Projects
Indigenous Cultural Sites in Shutesbury
Over the past several months, the Historical Commission has been exploring how we can best preserve Indigenous cultural sites in Shutesbury. We have been conducting research and working with consultants in order to deepen our understanding of Indigenous history in our region. We are planning educational programming for the public in the near future and have produced an Introduction to Indigenous Cultural Sites in Shutesbury. This report addresses a number of issues, including Indigenous land use, social justice, as well as the effects of Eurocentric bias in historical preservation. We hope this report and future programming will heighten awareness of Indigenous heritage sites in this region and respect for the continuing presence of our Indigenous neighbors. Additional educational materials are planned for later release. See link below for additional information about Native American cultural heritage and preservation.
Solar Zoning Bylaw
With the planned development of several new large-scale solar projects in Shutesbury, the community has begun discussing issues such as our Town's Zoning Bylaws. In the report below, entitled Historical Preservation and Solar Development in Shutesbury, the Historical Commission offers guidance on how our current zoning provides essential tools for equitable and appropriate historical preservation with large-scale development projects. We hope town committees and residents alike will find this analysis helpful in understanding some of the more complex aspects of historical preservation.
Historic Districts
The Historical Commission is in the early stages of exploring the possible development of Historic Districts in town.
Digitization and Archiving
We are beginning the planning stages for inventorying and digitizing historical collections owned by the Historical Commission. These records, including donated material collected over the years, are currently housed in the Old Town Hall. We have recently been approved to receive technical assistance from the Massachusetts Roving Archivist Program through the Massachusetts State Historical Advisory Board and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. In the coming months, we will be looking for town volunteers to assist with the indexing and digitizing effort.
Upcoming Meetings
The most recent and up-to-date meeting notices are available on the Town Calendar.
All meetings will be held virtually until the Stay-at-home COVID-19 mandate has been lifted. The zoom meeting link is provided in the meeting's posted agenda. All of our meetings are public and the public is always welcome.