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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.

Commission Seeks New Members

/ Ryan D. Hayward

The Medford Historical Commission seeks individuals within the Medford community to serve on our board. The all-volunteer appointed body is a champion for preserving and protecting the City’s historic character and heritage. Its members are residents with a diverse range of expertise and skills. We are seeking multiple new members to fill vacancies.

Our board was established in 1974 under Section 8d of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws and Chapter 48 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Medford. The Commission is charged with identifying historic assets and is the principal advisor to the City on matters relating to historic preservation. The body additionally reviews requests for demolition of buildings 75 years or older, or listed on the National or Massachusetts Register of Historic Places, as defined by our demolition delay ordinance.

Commission members are expected to attend a monthly meeting. There is occasional follow-up work to support various preservation-focused projects. Prospective candidates are encouraged to attend our meeting to understand what we do.

Applicants should have an interest, knowledge, and experience in any field related to historic preservation, law, archaeology, architectural history, and/or Medford history. Please provide a one-page introductory letter and resume. Selected individuals will be contacted for an interview. The Commission shall present a list of nominees to the mayor for final selection. Those chosen are appointed for up to three-year terms.

Please submit letters & materials to:

Ryan D. Hayward

Commission Vice-Chair

Email:

HistoricalCommission@Medford-MA.gov

January Meeting Materials

/ Ryan D. Hayward

Happy New Year to all those who follow the activities of the Historical Commission. We have a lot to get through this particular meeting. Within this post, you will find all the materials needed to follow along with our reviews and determinations. You can find the agenda by clicking the link below.

January 13, 2025 Meeting AgendaDownload

140 Summer Street: The Commission will determine the significance of 140 Summer Street, a 19th-century dwelling with an unusual history. The house also has a carriage house or barn tucked in the rear of the lot. We had an MHC Form B prepared for this property and it is available by clicking the link below.

140 Summer Street MHC Form BDownload

Front View of Wilson Street. Note the house is labeled 39 but the tax record uses parcel number 31.
31 Wilson Street: This twentieth-century dwelling is located in the center of a large lot in Fulton Heights. The owners have applied for demolition with the intent of building a new house. The building maintains a fair amount of its historic fabric. We will be reviewing the building for significance based on the MHC inventory form prepared by John Clemson.

31 Wilson Street MHC Form BDownload

4 Grove Street: The Commission is reviewing this project for unauthorized demolition beyond the approved permit. The process will start by reviewing significance. The Commission will review based on preconstruction/demolition conditions as is always the case with unauthorized demolitions.

4 Grove Street MHC Form BDownload

26 Rockwell Avenue: Tucked away at the end of Rockwell Avenue is an unusual cinder block dwelling. These buildings are rare in the built landscape and the Commission is documenting the structure with an MHC inventory form in advance of receiving the demolition application. The owners will file the plans at Monday’s meeting.

76 Court Street: The Commission is reviewing this project for demolition beyond the approved permit. The process will receive the demolition application while we await the preparation of an MHC inventory form. We will determine significance next month.

76 Court Street following unauthorized demolition. The Commission will receive an application for review.

Normal Updates:

As is usual practice, the Commission will have regular updates for our projects at the end of our meeting. These include completion discussion of the Cross Street Cemetery stone assessment, an excavation project, and various survey and planning projects.

As always, we welcome comments ahead of review. If you have a chance to provide comments, please feel free to email them to us and we will enter them into the record with the applications for review.

Hope to see you there!

November Meeting Materials

/ Ryan D. Hayward

The leaves are falling, the air is cooling and it’s late fall. The November meeting of the Historical Commission looks to have a lot of little updates for various projects. Some are done, others wrapping up, some just getting started and lots more in progress. Here’s some of the highlights of our agenda, which can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

November Meeting AgendaDownload

110 Brooks Street – Revised Design
The Commission’s demolition delay subcommittee worked with the owners to prepare revised plans that seek to mitigate the partial demolition of the significant and preferably preserved residential dwelling. Their design can be seen by

110Brooks_RevisedDesign_20241030Download

Section 106 Review – 20 Harvard Street
The Commission will review the addition of cell towers to the top of this existing building.

Preservation Ordinance Discussion
The Commission recently became aware of an ordinance in Reading that allows for some flexibility in granting variances when historic preservation is on the table. The Commission will review the existing language and see if it would be worthwhile to bring this to the attention of the Zoning and Community Development Boards. Together with the Department of Planning, Development, and Sustainability, we could collaborate to bring another tool to the table that will save our historic resources.

Regular Updates and Minutes
We will finish the meeting with a series of regular updates that include various projects. Be sure to tune in to learn more about all the happenings!

October Meeting Materials

/ Ryan D. Hayward

The Commission has a full agenda for the month of October. You can download the agenda by clicking the link below: October 2024 Agenda.

110 Brooks Street prior to the removal of exterior fabric. The building was flagged for review because of the extensive renovations planned.

110 Brooks Street Public Hearing
The Historical Commission will hold a public hearing on the partial demolition of the significant building at 110 Brooks Street. The building has important associations with historic persons and builders, and is architecturally important in terms of period and style, both by itself and in the context of a group of buildings. The Commission will allow public comments on if the partial demolition of the building will be detrimental to the historic resources of the City of Medford.
You can read the Commission’s determination of significance here:

110 Brooks Street – Determination of SignificanceDownload
110 Brooks Street – MHC Form BDownload

Medford City Hall – Determination of Significance
The City of Medford is considering various preservation-minded projects for City Hall. The Community Preservation Commission requested that the Historical Commission review the building and to determine significance.

Medford City Hall is a Works Progress Administration project. It was constructed following years of dispute over where to build the heart and soul of the municipal government. It was designed and constructed by noted architect and builder Michael A Dyer. The building is a classical revival style and retains much of its original integrity, both inside and out. The Commission will use the enclosed inventory form as part of its determination.

MDF.118 – Medford City Hall – MHC Form BDownload

Information on this building and many others can be found in the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s MACRIS database. The Massachusetts Culutral Resource Information System contains all of the inventory forms prepared for properties across the Commonwealth. The public is welcome to use this amazing assemblage of information for research. You can access the database by visiting: https://mhc-macris.net/

Medford 400th Anniversary – Planning
The Commission has been asked to brainstorm ideas for the Quadrennial in 2030. It is never too soon to start planning for the celebration of our 400th anniversary of our founding. Medford is among the oldest English settlements in North America. If there are things you would like to see the City celebrate, please do not hesitate to email us ideas!

Project Updates:
We continue to work on a series of projects. We plan to announce our public meeting for Thomas Brooks Park. The CPC fully funded our application for phase II of construction, and we’re working on a design for interpretation of the site’s history. Be on the lookout for our flyer and event information on our social media.
There is work happening at Cross Street Cemetery! The Commission has partnered with the Cemetery Trustees to fund an assessment of the monuments. Cross Street Cemetery was relocated for Interstate 93 in 1956. It is a part of Oak Grove Cemetery and is surrounded by a distinctive field stone wall. The stones within require various degrees of attention. We’re looking forward to seeing the final assessment this fall so we can apply for CPC funding with the Trustees next cycle.
The Commission also is working to secure funding for the next Survey and Planning Cycle. We have determined that a revisit to the historic resources in West Medford is in order. The Hastings Heights neighborhood did not receive any attention during the prior survey project and we would like to document many of the pre-1900 resources found within this dense landscape of 19th and 20th century dwellings. The Commission will also be looking to hire a consultant to undertake work documenting Sagamore Vale. This dense collection of 19th century buildings is one of the first planned residential developments around Medford Square. The area was last documented in 1975 and the survey needs to be updated.

Winter at the Bishop Estate in Medford Square. Painting by George Loring Brown. This landscape became Sagamore Vale in the middle of the 19th century.

The Commission will finish our meeting with meeting minute approvals and any other project updates we have been working on.

As always, comments ahead of the meeting can be submitted by emailing the commission. Please see the Contact Us page for our email.

September Meeting Materials

/ Ryan D. Hayward

The September Meeting is looking to be a busy one with a number of determinations on the docket. As always, our meeting is conducted via Zoom. Please feel free to join us by clicking the link on the top of our homepage or on the agenda.

September Meeting AgendaDownload

18 Cherry Street – Determination of Significance
The Historical Commission will review the historical significance for this nineteenth century dwelling house together with the adjacent auto garages. The buildings are slated for total demolition to allow for townhouses. The Commission has a Form B prepared for the building which can be viewed by clicking the link below.

18 Cherry Street MHC Form BDownload

106 Alexander Street – Receive Demolition Application and Determine Significance
The Commission will receive an application for this early twentieth century dwelling house. We already have a Form B for this building so we will move right into determining significance. The form is linked below.

106 Alexander Ave MHC Form BDownload

110 Brooks Street – Receive Demolition Application and Determine Significance
The Commission will review the gut-rehab project at 110 Brooks Street. Substantial changes are planned and the board will start with determining if the building is significant. The structure has some nice detail consistent with its period of construction. The building also has a known builder.

110 Brooks Street MHC Form BDownload

Salem Street Burying Ground Flag Pole
The Commission has received a request to support the construction of a new flagpole at SSBG for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. We have requested the City hire an archaeologist to review any excavation that is made given the age of the grounds. The Commission supports efforts to celebrate our history and welcomes this new monument to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire citizen soldiers that gave their life for the creation of our country and preservation of our liberties.

Fall Programs
We will have a few quick updates for fall programs and collaborations that are in the works. We will also discuss continuing education events that bolster our preservation knowledge. We try to attend these whenever it will benefit the City of Medford.

Normal Updates
From here, we have our regular monthly updates of ongoing work. We were able to secure MHC inventory forms for two properties under threat of demolition. Four new applications for building permits are being reviewed and there’s a possibility we will have forms prepared preemptively.

Minutes
As always, we will wrap the meeting up with minutes from the last three meetings.

If there’s anything preservation related that’s on your mind and you would like to share with us, please do not hesitate to reach out via email. We are always happy to hear from residents.

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.