Author: medfordhistoricalcommission

March Meeting Materials

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March has arrived “in like a lion,” and this year the weather seems determined to prove the old saying true. It’s shaping up to be another active month for the Medford Historical Commission as we prepare for our meeting on Monday, March 9. This month’s agenda reflects the wide range of preservation work underway across Medford, Massachusetts: from new demolition review applications and ongoing delay cases to updates on archaeological investigations, Community Preservation Act projects, and citywide historic resource surveys. As always, the Commission will review several properties that may have historical significance while continuing its long-term work documenting, preserving, and better understanding Medford’s historic places.

March 9, 2026 Meeting AgendaDownload

Demolition Review Applications:
Our meeting will begin with receiving several new applications as part of the City’s demolition review process. These initial hearings allow the Commission to determine whether a building meets the criteria for historical significance under the City’s demolition delay ordinance.

226 Main Street:
The Commission will receive an application for the demolition of a twentieth-century residential dwelling.This building is part of the Brooks Park Area and is mentioned briefly in the MHC Form A. We will determine historical significance, the first step in determining whether further review may be warranted.

MHC Form A – Brooks PlaceDownload

10 Whittemore Avenue:
We have received an application for the partial demolition of a twentieth-century residential resource that will be altered beyond recognition. The Commission hired a consultant to prepare an MHC Form B for the property. We will likewise determine significance for this property.

10 Whittemore – MHC Form BDownload

1-3 Vassar Street and 12-14 Wellesley Street:
Applications have been filed for the partial demolition of 1-3 Vassar Street and 12-14 Wellesley Street. Both propose significant changes to the roof plane and are applicable for demolition review. We will accept their applications and have MHC Form B prepared for each property.

Medford continues to see development pressure in many neighborhoods. These reviews play an important role in ensuring that historically important structures are thoughtfully considered before demolition proceeds.

Medford High School – Section 106 Review
The Commission has been asked to determine the historical significance of the Medford High School Complex at 489 Winthrop Street in West Medford. The City of Medford is investigating whether a new school should be constructed on the site or the existing building be renovated or selectively replaced. The Commission is afforded review under the Section 106 consultation process.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires state or federal agencies to consider the effects of state or federally funded or permitted projects on historic resources. This review provides an opportunity for the Commission to comment on potential impacts and help ensure that historic preservation concerns are part of the broader planning process. The Commission has requested information for the creation of an MHC Form B so we may determine significance in the future.

Project Updates:

The Commission will continue with a full range of project updates. We have many important things to share and we’ll offer highlights here.

Commission Membership:
We’re still looking for members to fill vacancies. Maintaining a full board is important to support the growing volume of preservation work across the city. If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to us.

Properties Under Demolition Delay:
The Commission will check in with updates on properties currently under demolition delay, including 41 Mystic Avenue and 36 Mystic Street. These delay periods provide time for property owners, preservation advocates, and the community to explore alternatives that may allow historically significant buildings to be preserved or incorporated into redevelopment plans.

Annual Report:
Commissioners will review a draft of the Commission’s upcoming annual report, which summarizes the organization’s work over the past year. The report highlights preservation efforts, ongoing initiatives, and the many projects reviewed by the Commission.

Brooks Estate Archaeological Survey:
We have awarded the archaeological survey work to SWCA Environmental Consultants. This investigation will help deepen our understanding of the landscape’s long history and many layers of activity that shaped this important place.

Community Preservation Act Projects:
The Commission will receive updates on several preservation initiatives funded through the Community Preservation Act, including ongoing work at Thomas Brooks Park and conservation efforts at Cross Street Cemetery. These projects represent important investments in the preservation of Medford’s historic landscapes and burial grounds. Be sure to look for more information about these projects on their dedicated pages accessible from our home page.

Hastings Heights Historic Resource Survey:
Finally, the Commission will hear updates on ongoing historic resource work in the Hastings Heights development in West Medford. These surveys document historic buildings and landscapes throughout the city and form the foundation for informed preservation planning.

As this lengthy post demonstrates, preservation in Medford is an ongoing process that involves careful research, review, and collaboration with property owners, city staff, and the broader community. The Commission encourages residents to stay engaged with this work—whether by attending meetings, following project updates, or sharing information about historic properties in their neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing these conversations and reporting on the progress of these efforts in the months ahead.

Volunteers Needed: Artifact Cleaning and Cataloging Day

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A Brush With History: Thomas Brooks Park Artifact Cleaning & Cataloging Day

Location: Medford Public Library at 111 High Street
Date & Time: Monday, March 30, 2026, from 9AM – 5PM

Registration is Required: Email—HistoricalCommission@medford-ma.gov

Join the Medford Historical Commission and SWCA archaeologists  for a hands on day experiencing the history uncovered at Thomas Brooks Park.

We’re looking for 8-10 volunteers to roll up their sleeves and help gently clean, sort, and catalogue artifacts. No experience necessary, just curiosity and an interest in Medford’s past. All volunteers will work alongside professional archaeologists.

This is a great opportunity to connect with one of our historic landscapes and to learn first hand how the Historical Commission preserves our community’s past.

Volunteers will get to see fragments of a bowl featuring the “King’s Rose” decoration, as seen in this complete example from the collection of Old Sturbridge Village.

January Meeting Materials

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The Medford Historical Commission will host its first meeting of the New Year on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:00PM. The meeting will be held remotely via Zoom to provide the most flexible form of participation. Our agenda is online and is summarized with meeting materials below.

January 12, 2026 Meeting AgendaDownload

Demolition Review Applications:
Our meeting will begin with a determination of significance, followed by receiving two demolition applications.

36 Mystic Street:
An application for the partial demolition of 36 Mystic Street has been received. The Commission will review the information submitted and determine if the building meets the criteria for significance.

36 Mystic Street – MHC Form BDownload

17 Sharon Street:
The Commission will receive a demolition application for 17 Sharon Street. Materials associated with the application will be reviewed and the property will be discussed as part of the Commission’s demolition review process. The determination of significance shall be next month.

85 Marshall Street:
The Commission will receive a demolition application for 85 Marshall Street. Materials associated with the application will be reviewed, and the property will be discussed as part of the Commission’s demolition review process. The determination of significance shall be next month.

Old Business:
The Commission will then have a series of updates summarized under our old business categories. We are really active already in the New Year and are looking forward to moving many of our longstanding projects toward fruition. We hope to see you soon and wish you all the best in 2026.

October Hearing Materials

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Good morning! The Historical Commission will be at Thomas Brooks Park this morning working with the team from SWCA consultants on a second archaeological dig. Tonight, we have a hearing and will determine significance on two buildings.

October Hearing AgendaDownload

41 Mystic Avenue – Public Hearing
The Commission will take comments on if the demolition of 41 Mystic Avenue is detrimental to the historical or cultural assets of the City of Medford. The building is an 18th century structure moved in the late 19th century for Governor’s Avenue. The building is importantly associated with the Hall Family of Medford. Benjamin Hall was a noted rum distiller whose ships were actively involved in the Atlantic Triangle Trade. Beyond this, Hall’s brother-in-law was Timothy Fitch, a slave trader. The building also has some interesting history regarding its current location on Mystic Ave, the former Medford Turnpike. You can read all about that in the enclosed MHC Form B and extension form.

41 Mystic Ave – MHC Form BDownload
Continuation Sheet – 41 Mystic AvenueDownload

58 Myrtle Street – Determination of Significance
The Commission will determine if 58 Myrtle Street is significant. The building is a mid-19th-century structure that was likely part of the development laid out by Horatio Williams. The neighborhood consists of uniform gable-end houses that closely abut the street. The area was once known as Williamsburg for its connection to Williams, but the name has given way to Glenwood, which was the name of the nearby depot on Spring Street at the corner of Myrtle.

58 Myrtle – MHC Form BDownload

231 Park Street – Determination of Significance
The Commission will last take an application for the demolition of 231 Park Street. This mid-19th-century building is similar to Myrtle in many ways. It was documented during the East Medford Survey Project and is one of 3000 or so pre-1900 homes remaining city-wide.

231 Park Street – MHC Form BDownload

As always, comments are welcome by emailing the Historical Commission ahead of tonight’s meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

October Meeting Materials

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Salutations and greetings on this fine fall day! The Medford Historical Commission has an early meeting on October 6, 2025. The agenda is included below so you can follow along. Meeting materials that the Commission will review are available further down in this post.

October 6, 2025 Meeting AgendaDownload

10 Irving Street – Public Hearing
The Commission will hold a public hearing to determine if the demolition of 10 Irving Street would be detrimental to the historic resources of the City of Medford. We do so by determining if the building is preferably preserved. This structure is Italianate in nature. Its large form suggests it is an earlier building that was moved to the site. The Commission will review the information in the Form B and hear public comments to determine if the building is preferably preserved.

10 Irving Street – MHC Form BDownload

41 Mystic Avenue – Determination of Significance
An application for demolition has been received for 41 Mystic Avenue. We will review the building for significance. The Benjamin and Hepzibah Jones Hall House was surveyed as part of the Medford Square South Project. This building is one of twelve surviving eighteenth-century buildings remaining in the City.

41 Mystic Avenue – MHC Form BDownload

121 Second Street – Determination of Significance
An application for demolition has been received for 121 Second Street. The Commission will review the information in the MHC Form B and determine significance. This is an early 20th century resource with some surviving original details. The building is slated for total demolition to be replaced by a duplex.

121 Second Street – MHC Form BDownload

Upcoming Demolition Reviews:
Although they did not make it to the agenda in time, there are two applications that will be received by the Commission. The first is 6 Hobbs Road, which proposes major renovations to a 20th-century residence in West Medford. The other is 58 Myrtle Street, which is being remodeled extensively to the point where the original structure will no longer be distinguishable.

Old Business:

The Commission will continue its meeting with the various monthly updates on projects underway.

Vacancies: We are still looking for new members. Please reach out to us if you are interested in serving on our board.
Historic District Commission Updates: Nothing at this time.
Properties Under Delay: No update at this time.
Form Bs: We received the Form B back from consultant John Clemson for the Kappy’s Building. We always try to share this information so that it is useful during planning discussions.

10 Revere Beach Parkway – MHC Form BDownload

Thomas Brooks Park
We’re pleased to announce we’re looking for volunteers for a second dig planned this fall. See our announcement for more information. With that underway, we can turn our attention to bidding the tree work. We secured a large amount of money to prune many of the historic trees in the park. We are looking to partner with the Planning Department, Parks, and DPW to collaborate efforts to make the green canopy safe. Work will happen in the winter when the vegetation is gone so any deadwood can be seen and removed. This is a pruning exercise and removal of the dead trees. We are hoping to replant a handful of the native trees in the spring. Once that major task is bid, we will return to looking at the sidewalks and crosswalks with the DPW and Engineering.

Hastings Heights Survey:
The Survey and Planning Project has gone out to bid. Procurement will release the documents on Monday, and responses are due in early November. If the City can turn around a contract quickly, work can begin in mid-November and extend through September of next year.

We will end our meeting with the approval of meeting minutes. As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email us!

Volunteers Wanted for Archaeological Dig 2.0

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The Medford Historical Commission is looking for adventurous volunteers to help with the archaeological dig planned at Thomas Brooks Park!

Thomas Brooks Park is a landscape of deep cultural significance. It weaves together Medford’s local history, the legacy of slavery in New England, and the presence of Native American heritage—all preserved within this historic site. The current archaeological excavation is being conducted as part of due diligence in preparation for planned preservation and protection efforts. Please note that all unauthorized digging, metal detecting, or artifact collecting is strictly prohibited.

Unearth hidden stories from Medford’s past as you roll up your sleeves, dig into history, and help uncover artifacts that haven’t seen daylight in centuries. No experience is required – just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a readiness for discovery.  Here are some of the early details:

🗓 When: The end of October or early November. We will post the specific days as we get closer.
⏰ Schedule: Volunteers will come for one full day, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (includes a 30-minute lunch break). We can have up to 6 volunteers per day.
📋 Orientation: All volunteers must attend a 1-hour orientation on a date in advance of the dig.

Volunteers must be 18 or older to participate. If you can’t make it to the dig itself, we’ll post about lab work (cleaning and cataloging what is recovered).

☀️ Rain or shine, the dig goes on!

No need to bring equipment — just wear sturdy, closed-toed boots or shoes with ankle support. (Sorry, no flip-flops!) You may bring your own gardening gloves and knee pads if you’d like. Be sure to pack your own lunch and water for the day.

Ready to make history?
📧 Email the Medford Historical Commission at historicalcommission@medford-ma.gov with your name, availability, and best contact method to be added to the list.

August Meeting Materials

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We have posted our meeting agenda and minutes on our meeting and agenda page. We have also posted the August agenda below.

August Meeting AgendaDownload

We have a busy month with a number of action items on the agenda.

For those that are following demolition delay cases, 18 Wedgemere Road has withdrawn their application.

Receive Demolition Applications and Ordering Form B’s:
The Commission will receive an application for the demolition of 18 Cherry Street.
The Commission will order MHC Form B’s for 18 Cherry, 110 Brooks Street, 39 Wilson Street, 39 Marion Street, and 106 Alexander Street. The later properties are being considered for demolition and the Commission will preemptively order forms to document their history.

Review Progress:
Commissioners will review the progress made on the mitigation at 38 Pearl Street and vote to release the property. Then, the Commissioners will review the progress at 56 Wareham Street to determine if the design is sufficient to release the delay. The demolition delay subcommittee will turn its attention to 27 Almont Street to work with the owner on the proposal for renovations.

Section 106 Reviews:
Amanda Centrella will provide an overview of a project planned for the Riverside Avenue Plaza. The Commission will provide comments as necessitated by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

CPC Updates:
Theresa Dupont will likewise provide an update to the Commission on various historic preservation projects in the works.

We will then have a normal array of business items that will take us through to the end of our meeting. As always, the public is welcome to attend and provide comments. We ask that if you have feedback ahead of time, please send us an email and we will be sure to distribute it with the agenda to all the Commissioners. We enjoy hearing from residents and hope to see you soon!

May Meeting Materials

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Today is a wonderful mid-spring day and the perfect time to update the community on our meeting on May 13, 2024. Our agenda has been posted to our website. Be sure to download it and review all the items the Commission plans to review. You can find the agenda by clicking here!

27 Almont Street Public Hearing
The Historical Commission will hold a Public Hearing to determine if the demolition of the well-preserved pre-1855 building at 27 Almont Street is detrimental to the historic resources of the City of Medford.

The Commission views this type of building as a rare and diminishing resource in our built landscape. We encourage residents to voice their opinions on if the preservation of this building is important to the community. You can learn more about the building by reading the MHC inventory form, and the determination of significance letter included below:

27 Almont – MHC Form BDownload
27 Almont – Determination of SignificanceDownload

Determinations of Significance

The Commission will determine the significance of the following buildings:

  • 18 Wedgemere Road
  • 9 Trout Avenue

As a reminder, our definition of significance is as follows:

As set forth in Section 48-78, a significant building is any structure, or a portion thereof, which is not within a local historic district subject to regulation under the provisions of MGLA c. 40C, but which:

  1. Has been listed in or is the subject of a pending application for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; or
  2. Has been listed in the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places; or
  3. Was built within 75 years or older and which is determined by the commission to be a significant building as provided by subsection 48-78(d) either because:

                a. It is importantly associated with one or more historic persons or events, or with the broad architectural, cultural, political, economic, or social history of the city or the commonwealth; or

                 b. It is historically or architecturally important in terms of period, style, method of building   construction, or association with an important architect or builder, either by itself or in the context of a group of buildings.

The Commission has inventory forms for each of the buildings and will utilize that information to make the determination. The forms are included below.

18 Wedgemere Road – MHC Form BDownload
9 Trout Ave – MHC Form BDownload

New Demolition Applications
Following the public hearing, the Commission will receive demolition applications for the properties located at:

  • 85 Morton Avenue

The Commission will have an MHC inventory form prepared for this building to learn more about it’s history and prepare to determine significance next month.

The Commission will also receive the application for partial demolition of the building located at 38 Pearl Street. This historic pre-1855 building has an MHC inventory form. It is also part of an area documented on an MHC form A. Both are included below.

George, Pearl, and Stearns Street – MHC Form ADownload
38 Pearl Street – MHC Form BDownload

The Commission will also receive the application for the fire-damaged building at 3-5 Pleasant Street. This building is a National Register property and as a result, it is automatically significant. The Commission will move right to a public hearing held next month to determine if the building is preferably preserved.

Site Plan Reviews

The Commission has two site plan reviews on the agenda. One is for 400 Mystic Avenue, and the other 280 Mystic Avenue. Details of the projects will be conveyed at the meeting and the Commission will review the projects and provide feedback as requested.

Ongoing Business

The meeting will conclude with an array of updates on existing projects that are moving forward. Be sure to listen in on all the great stuff that’s happening.

As always, we encourage residents to submit comments in advance of the meeting. The Commission receives these items and does read through them. They are entered into the record as well. Looking forward to seeing you there!

A celebration at Medford City Hall in the mid-20th century.

February Meeting Materials

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We are looking forward to seeing everyone this month! We have a light(ish) agenda that includes a determination of significance and then various project updates.

February Meeting AgendaDownload

314 Winthrop Street – Determination of Significance:

The Commission will review the MHC inventory form prepared by John Clemson for the property at 314 Winthrop Street. The building is slated to be altered beyond recognition and is reviewable under the ordinance.

314 Winthrop Street MHC Form BDownload

The Commission will then proceed with a review of the site plan application for the Fellsway Innovation Center. This project is coming before the Community Development Board and the Commission is afforded a chance to comment. The Commission will review plans and forward any comments to the board.

When that is complete, we will have a series of project updates. These will be quick but there’s lots of things happening. We hope to see you tonight!

A Discussion on Demolition Delay 2/6 @ 10AM

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The Medford Historical Commission is proud to promote the Eastern Massachusetts Historical Commission Coalition’s program titled “From Bylaw to Action: Understanding Demolition Delay Implementation” on Tuesday February 6, 2024 from 10-11:30AM. This is a digital presentation. Please be sure to register online with the EMHCC located here: bit.ly/46uh86I

EMHCC makes their presentations available online after the fact. If you can’t join us at that time, be sure to watch them on their archives. The Medford Historical Commission is pleased to speak at this event and we welcome anyone from the public to chime in on the benefits of this important community preservation tool.