MATTAPOISETT – Mattapoisett’s Historical Commission is planning to update historic and cultural resources for the town.

The commission has selected Christopher Skelly of Skelly Preservation Services to complete a town-wide survey plan that will make recommendations for those resources. The last survey of historic properties was completed in the early 1980s and the commission says that it is “necessary that the original survey be expanded and updated” in order to be compliant with state standards. 

The Mattapoisett Historical Commission was established in 1973 by Mattapoisett Town Meeting under the guidance of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40, Section 8D.

The primary goal of a local historical commission is community-wide historic preservation planning. This consists of identification, evaluation and protection of historic resources throughout the community. The survey plan will prioritize and focus on those key points, provide an analysis of the existing property survey, analyze the historic property survey needs and recommend an action plan.

Once a plan is developed, the next phase will be to complete inventory forms. Inventory forms are the primary means for recording information on the history, location and appearance of resources. They will be digitized in an easily accessible database and available on the state website.

The information serves as a basis for determining if properties are eligible for listing in the National Historic Register. The National Historic Register is a formal recognition of the significance of a property in the nation’s history, culture, architecture or archeology. The information can also be valuable to homeowners who are interested in the history of their properties, and it can serve as a valuable tool for the community’s understanding of its history and culture.

This project is funded by a grant from the Mattapoisett Community Preservation Committee.