WEBSITE FOR BELCHERTOWN HISTORICAL COMMISSION

MISSION STATEMENT

The Belchertown Historical Commission was established to identify, evaluate, and protect important historical and archaeological assets of Belchertown; establish our sense of place and to define the very character of our community and to meet the challenge of preserving our important heritage.

MEETING TIME AND PLACE

TIME: Second Tuesday of every month, 7:30 PM

PLACE: Lawrence Memorial Hall (Town Hall), auditorium

MEMBERSHIP

Leslie E. Squires – Chairman Shannon Materka

Steve Cole Maxine Oland

Sue Fulton F. Knowlton Utley

Erika Hamilton

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Judith Fuller Gillan Alice Pellissier

BOARD OF SELECTMAN LAISON

Alfred J. Roccanti

CURRENT PROJECTS

HISTORIC INVENTORY SURVEY

The Belchertown Historical Commission (BHC) is currently working to expand its inventory of historic structures in town. Until recently, the only historic structures that had been inventoried were located in the town center, on the Belchertown State School property, and at the Quabbin Reservoir Park. Due to the increasing threat of development in Belchertown, the BHC recognized the need to document historic buildings outside of these areas. The commission raised funds from the Community Preservation Commission ($25,000) and the Massachusetts Historic Commission ($15,000) to hire a professional preservation consultant. Fitzgerald and Halliday, Inc., of Hartford, CT, was hired to research, photograph, and record 130 historic properties in Belchertown. This phase of the inventory project will be complete in June 2008, and will serve as the basis for preservation planning, educational programs, and self-guided historic driving tours.

CEMETERIES

The Belchertown Historical Commission is starting a new project. We are going to be working on the maps of all 11 cemeteries in town. The maps will have references to the location of all graves. Photographs of the headstones will be taken and will be available at the Historical Commission and at the Town Clerks Office. Eventually we would like to give access to the information on our web site.

GOALS/ FUTURE PROJECTS

The Belchertown Historical Commission (BHC) is committed to encouraging historical preservation through education and community awareness. The BHC seeks to develop materials that can be used to educate schools and other community groups about Belchertown’s historic resources. The commission is currently developing a comprehensive website, which will contain comprehensive data gathered from historic inventory projects. The BHC also plans to develop self-guided historic driving tours, leading residents and visitors to significant and interesting locations on Belchertown’s historic landscape.

LINKS TO BELCHERTOWN HISTORIC RESOURCES

Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC): http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm

MHC searchable database of inventoried historic resources in MA:

http://mhc-macris.net/index.htm

Belchertown Community Preservation Commission: http://www.belchertown.org/committees/cpc/index.html

The Stone House Museum (Belchertown Historical Association): http://www.stonehousemuseum.org/