Do you have a passion for Medford’s history, historic buildings, or the stories that connect our community to its past? The Medford Historical Commission wants you on our board. We’re seeking new members!
Established in 1974, the Medford Historical Commission is an all-volunteer, mayor-appointed municipal board dedicated to identifying, protecting, and preserving the historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural resources that tell Medford’s story. We are looking for several new members who want to help ensure that these important historic resources remain a part of our community’s future.
We welcome applicants with a strong interest in our history, and a willingness to contribute their time and talents. Experience or knowledge in historic preservation, architectural history, architecture, archaeology, law, local history, or related fields is especially valuable. A range of backgrounds and perspectives helps make the Commission stronger.
Members attend a monthly meeting and occasionally assist with preservation-related projects. Appointments are for terms up to three years. If you are interested but would like to learn more before applying, we encourage you to attend a Commission meeting and see our work firsthand.
If you’re ready to apply, please submit a one-page introductory letter outlining your interests, experience, and qualifications to Ryan D. Hayward, Vice-Chairman of the Medford Historical Commission. All letters should be emailed to historicalcommission@medford-ma.gov.
Selected applicants will be invited to meet with the board. The Commission will then submit a list of nominees to the Mayor for final selection and appointment.
Medford’s history is worth protecting. Join us in helping protect it for future generations. Please share this post with anyone who might be interested in serving our community.
Building the Pilgrim, the last Clipper ship launched on the Mystic River in 1873.
October was another busy month for the Medford Historical Commission, with two meetings scheduled around Indigenous Peoples’ Day. At our October 5th meeting, the Commission held Preferably Preserved hearings for 15 Maple Park Avenue (the Hegner Center) and 71 Mystic Avenue, and accepted a new demolition application for 141 Grant Avenue. At our October 19th meeting, we held the Preferably Preserved hearing for 73 Surrey Street, found 141 Grant Avenue significant, and reviewed two new applications on Salem Street and Main Street. That evening the Commission also heard from the City’s Veteran Services Department about the American Legion property on Winthrop Street, chose a focus area for the next round of survey grants, and shared updates on zoning, Medford High School, and Cross Street Cemetery.
Determinations of Significance Summary: In September the Commission found 71 Mystic Avenue and 73 Surrey Street significant, joining 15 Maple Park Avenue (the Hegner Center), which had been found significant earlier. This month we held Preferably Preserved hearings for all three properties. We also received three new demolition review applications. 141 Grant Avenue was accepted on October 5 and found significant on October 19. On October 19, 360–362 Salem Street was passed on review, and the application for 387–389 Main Street was accepted, with significance to be determined at a future meeting.
Meeting Date
Address
Outcome
Vote
October 5
15 Maple Park Avenue (Hegner Center)
Not Preferably Preserved
0–4
October 5
71 Mystic Avenue
Not Preferably Preserved
0–4
October 5
141 Grant Avenue
Application accepted
4–0
October 19
73 Surrey Street
Not Preferably Preserved
1–4
October 19
141 Grant Avenue
Significant
5–0
October 19
387–389 Main Street
Application accepted
5–0
15 Maple Park Avenue “The Hegner Center” (October 5): After being tabled in September, the Preferably Preserved hearing for the Hegner Center went forward. The building had been found significant earlier, when a Community Preservation Act application was considered for roof, window, and door work; that application was later withdrawn, and no CPA funds were awarded. The building was built by the Dyer Company. Michael Dyer was one of Medford’s most prolific architect-builders of the early 20th century, responsible for City Hall and a number of downtown buildings, and he followed closely in the footsteps of Charles Dunham. Before I-93 came through, the site served as Medford High School’s athletic facility. The building has been vacant for years, and no reuse plans came with the City’s application. Several abutters spoke in favor of demolition, describing the building as an eyesore and a safety concern. Commissioners noted that the building would likely need significant investment to reimagine it to serve a new use since it has sat vacant for so long. The motion failed 0–4.
71 Mystic Avenue (October 5): Found significant in September, this house is the last residential building along a long commercial stretch of Mystic Avenue, and buildings from before 1875 are increasingly rare in Medford. The applicant, which plans a self-storage and ground-floor retail development, presented with its historic preservation consultant. They showed that the house was built after the Middlesex Canal closed and has lost most of its historic features, including its front porch (visible on historic Sanborn maps), original siding, windows, doors, and interior details. Commissioners compared it with nearby 41 Mystic Avenue, which remains under demolition delay but ultimately the motion failed 0–4.
73 Surrey Street (October 19): This hearing was originally set for October 5 but was moved to October 19 because the owner’s sign and legal ad were not in place in time. Having found the house significant in September, the Commission held a public hearing to decide whether the proposed demolition would be detrimental to Medford’s historic resources. This is the second step in the City’s two-step demolition delay process. The project is a large rehabilitation. It brings the front of the house forward about two and a half feet over the porch, extends the three-sided side bay up to the roofline, and adds a large rear addition. Commissioners generally found the design sympathetic. It keeps the arched porch openings that define this neighborhood, carries over the eave returns and stepped cornice described in the MHC Form B, and restores divided-light windows. The motion to find the building Preferably Preserved failed 1–4, so the project was released. The owners were offered a voluntary meeting with the Commission’s demolition delay subcommittee to work through the suggestions discussed in the meeting.
141 Grant Avenue (October 5 and October 19): The Commission accepted a late demolition application for this property on October 5 so that significance could be determined on October 19th. The house sits in East Medford, and is a beautiful, surviving example of Victorian architecture from this period. Originally built by the Hall family who began developing in the late 19th century, trustees took over the land and built out the neighborhood street by street from Medford Square toward Spring Street through the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s when the Halls fell into bankruptcy. Development accelerated once the streetcar came through on Salem Street. 141 Grant Avenue is one of the few 19th-century houses remaining on a street and it is one of only a couple of nearby homes with a turret – an octagonal architectural bay that sits to the home’s left-side and extend like a tower through the roofline. New research identified its likely builder as John Payne, who came to Medford from Canada as part of a broad wave of Canadian working-class builders who helped build neighborhoods across the Northeast. On October 19, commissioners found the house significant 5–0. A Preferably Preserved hearing was scheduled for the November 9th meeting.
360–362 Salem Street (October 19): The existing building is a 1916 commercial block proposing full demolition. The Commission had already given design feedback on this project during the Community Development Board’s site plan review, and the CD Board approved it after several productive design meetings. Because the design had already been reviewed, the Commission voted 5–0 to pass on review so the project could move forward.
387–389 Main Street (October 19): The Commission accepted a demolition application for this 19th-century building with a 20th-century storefront. The proposal demolishes the rear building and builds new. An MHC Form B was ordered, and significance was set to be determined at a future meeting.
Potential Future Projects:
321 Winthrop Street “American Legion Post 45”: Following the Commission’s September discussion, the City’s Director of Veteran Services and the Commander of the American Legion post presented their plans for the property. They hope to demolish the existing 19th-century mansion on the site in favor of building a facility for transitioning veterans. The original plan was to create the home inside the existing Victorian mansion which is about 10,00 square feet. However, a feasibility study by Suffolk Construction found the house structurally unsound and too costly to repair. The current plan is to replace the mansion with a new building of about 9,900 square feet, while the rest of the Legion facility stays intact. Next steps included a site visit and completing the updated MHC inventory form.
Ongoing Project Updates:
The following updates were shared at the October 19 meeting.
Survey and Planning Grant: The Commission chose a focus area for its next survey and planning grant application: the residential neighborhoods north of Medford Square. This area includes the Lawrence Estates, developed by Willard Welch near Samuel Crocker Lawrence’s home, along with the Forest Park development and another Hall family development near Lawrence Road and Forest Street. These neighborhoods have almost no survey coverage. The Lawrence Estates is especially well preserved and, unlike the duplex neighborhoods south of the river, was built almost entirely as single-family homes. A grant cycle can produce up to about 130 inventory forms. This continues 16 years of citywide survey work that began in 2010; before that, Medford’s last citywide survey dated to 1975. Anyone curious about surveyed buildings can explore the state’s MACRIS maps, or email the Commission to ask whether a form exists for a property.
The Hastings Heights survey was on pause while the Massachusetts Historical Commission reviewed the inventory forms. The Brooks Estate neighborhood survey was being prepared to go out to bid.
Zoning Update: Work continued on zoning language that would give developers incentives, such as waived parking requirements and added height, for preserving and adapting historic buildings. Under the proposal, projects using these incentives would come to the Historical Commission for design review before going to the Community Development Board. This would let the Commission identify important buildings proactively, instead of reacting only when a demolition permit is filed. The language was still being finalized, was to come to the Commission first, and was intended to apply citywide.
Medford High School – Section 106 Review: The Commission was still waiting on the school’s construction records from the late 1960s and early 1970s to help consultants finish the MHC Form B.
Cross Street Cemetery: Photos of the restoration work at the relocated Cross Street Cemetery at Oak Grove were posted to our website. The stone wall was complete, the restored gate was due back soon, and a replacement for a missing veteran’s stone was underway while the contractor sourced matching marble. Ground-penetrating radar was scheduled for the day after the meeting at both the relocated cemetery and the original site, with results expected by the end of the month. The results were expected to show whether the front grassy area at the relocated cemetery holds burials, and to inform plans for the original site, including a possible secondary memorial for those who could not be relocated. Any future exhumation would require special approval from the state legislature, and that planning was expected to take place over the winter.
Next Meeting:
The Commission set its next meeting for Monday, November 9, which was to include the Preferably Preserved hearing for 141 Grant Avenue.
Preservation efforts in Medford are an ongoing process of research, review, and collaboration with property owners, city staff, and the broader community. We encourage residents to stay involved by attending meetings with us, staying up to date with our project updates, or sharing what they know about historic properties in their neighborhoods with us.
The Medford Historical Commission will host its second meeting for the month of October on the 19th at 7PM via Zoom. The evening will begin with a hearing from 73 Surrey Street to consider its preferably preserved status. The Commission will then continue with its regular business meeting, covering new demolition review matters and updates on ongoing projects.
The Commission will host a public hear to determine if the significant building at 73 Surrey Street should be designated as preferably preserved. The hearing will include Commissioner comments, and public comments, followed by a Commission motion and vote.
The Commission will consider a determination of significance for 141 Grant Avenue, receive a demolition application for 360-362 Salem Street, and review a project update for 321 Winthrop Street. Members will also discuss the next location for the Survey and Planning Grant cycle, and a potential demolition review at 387-389 Main Street.
Old Business
Updates will include vacant Commission seats, the zoning update from CDB, the Medford High School Section 106 review, properties currently under demolition delay, Cross Street Cemetery, and the Hastings Heights survey project. The Commission will also review meeting minutes.
Residents are always encouraged to attend and participate. Written comments may be submitted in advance to our email, and we will take verbal comments at the meeting.
The Medford Historical Commission is prepared to host a series of public hearings on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 7PM via Zoom concerning three properties under the City’s Demolition Delay review.
For each property, the Commission will reiterate the significance and review whether the property is preferably preserved. This is the second step in the demolition review process. The Commission will review each building’s integrity, looking at surviving historic fabric against the significance. The public will be allowed to comment on the proposed demolition. At the conclusion, the Commission will vote. The vote determines if the building is in the public interest to be saved and rehabilitated rather than demolished. If a delay is imposed, the goal is to encourage the applicant to work with the Commission to mitigate the demolition.
15 Maple Park Avenue – Hegner Center The Commission will review the proposed demolition of the Hegner Center at 15 Maple Park Avenue. The building is the former field house for Gillis Field. The Commissioners will review its integrity, take feedback, and vote. At the conclusion, the Commission will discuss the outcome and next steps.
71 Mystic Avenue The Commission will also hold a preferred preservation hearing for 71 Mystic Avenue. The last residential building along this corridor, the building is being reviewed as part of a proposed multi-lot development for self-storage. The hearing will follow the same format as 15 Maple Park.
An image of Moore Square showing the once-quiet residential neighborhood that existed at the intersection of Mystic Avenue and Main Street. This is now the site of the Mobile gas station.
73 Surrey Street The scheduled hearing for 73 Surrey Street is tabled as the required posting and sign requirements has not been met. The property therefore will return for consideration at a future hearing once the procedural requirements have been addressed.
Following the public hearings, the Commission will continue with a regular business meeting. They will receive any demolition applications and approve meeting minutes. It is likely that we will receive demolition applications from 141 Grant Avenue and 360 Salem Street.
As always, the Commission encourages you to attend, provide comments, and participate in the public process. Public input is an important part of our work as the board considers the history and preservation of Medford’s historic resources.
Our next regular meeting is scheduled for October 19th, 2026 at 7PM via Zoom.
September brought a full agenda to the Medford Historical Commission. At our meeting on Monday, September 14th the Commission made determinations of significance on seven properties, discussed the future of the American Legion building on Winthrop Street, and heard updates on zoning, Medford High School, and the conservation work at Cross Street Cemetery. Three properties will proceed to vote on Preferably Preserved hearings on October 5th.
15 Maple Park Avenue “The Hegner Center”: The Preferably Preserved hearing scheduled for this meeting was tabled until October 5 because the petitioners did display their required yard sign in time for the meeting. We will publish materials in advance of their hearing.
Determinations of Significance Summary: Last month the Commission accepted demolition review applications for seven properties, some for total demolition and some for partial. This month we determined whether they warranted a vote of significance.
As a reminder a building is considered ‘significant’ if it is associated with historic people or events, or with the broad architectural, cultural, political, economic, or social history of the city or Commonwealth. It can also be significant for its period, style, method of construction, or association with an important architect or builder, either on its own or as part of a group of buildings.
Address
Outcome
Vote
67 Mystic Avenue
Passed on review (built after 1950)
6–0
71 Mystic Avenue
Significant
5–1
73 Mystic Avenue
Passed on review (built after 1950)
6–0
81 Mystic Avenue
Passed on review (built after 1950)
6–0
78 Circuit Road
Not significant
2–4
146 Spring Street
Not significant
1–5
73 Surrey Street
Significant
6–0
67, 71, 73 & 81 Mystic Avenue: Four properties along Mystic Avenue are part of a proposed self-storage development along Mystic Avenue. Three of them, number 67, 73, and 81 Mystic Avenue, do not meet the ordinance’s age requirement, so the Commission passed on review. 71 Mystic Avenue was found significant and will be on the agenda for October 5th’s agenda. Commissioners noted it stands as the last residential dwelling remaining along this streetscape, apart from 41 Mystic Avenue, which was relocated there. The lots also have an association with the Middlesex Canal, and they sit within a National Register district. The discussion focused less on saving the house than on documenting it, and on asking for archaeological monitoring during construction. City staff noted that because the project is over 10,000 square feet, it would also need site plan review by the Community Development Board and likely a Zoning Board filing. The Commission agreed to pass its recommendations for archeological monitoring along to those boards.
78 Circuit Road: Although at first glance it appears as a modest 1920’s house, this home has a notable history as part of George McCormick’s Forest Park developments. McCormick was among Medford’s most prolific land developers, and he marketed lots to working-class families under the philosophy “if you’re on this earth, own a piece of it.” The house retains its original wood windows and possibly the shutters, and front door, which was noted to be unusual in the neighborhood. A majority of commissioners felt it did not rise to individual significance. The motion failed, and the owners were told they would receive a release letter.
146 Spring Street: This circa 1886 built house is one of a group built by the same builder along Spring Street, the last stage of East Medford’s street-by-street Victorian development that were built outward emanating from Medford Square. The application proposed a rear addition replacing earlier additions, plus new windows, while keeping the original roofline. An earlier version with dormers had triggered review, however, Commissioners cited the currently proposed plans did not alter the exterior of the home significantly, and the motion for significance failed. Commissioners noted that a return to the dormer design would trigger review again.
73 Surrey Street: This early twentieth-century house was built by John and Frank Walker, developers who worked on a scale similar to McCormick. The home, and a few of it’s neighbor’s homes, are defined by distinctive half-round arches on the front porches, and this house survives as a single-family home where many of its neighbors were built as two-families. Commissioners found the proposed renovation thoughtful, however, they had questions about scope of construction and whether the distinctive features of the home, like the arches on the porch, will be retained. The Commission found the house significant and will vote for Preferably Preserved status in next month’s meeting.
321 Winthrop Street “American Legion Building”: The Commission discussed a potential future project at this property. The owners were exploring veterans housing on the site and had discussed demolishing the existing buildings. The house dates to the 1880s, and the hall was added in roughly between 1940s – 60s. The Commission agreed to order an updated MHC inventory form to replace the one originally from the 1970s. Commissioners hoped to steer the project toward reuse of the existing buildings, possibly with Community Preservation Act planning funds noting the architectural details of the building. Commissioners planned to invite the owners to share their plans at a future meeting, potentially as part of the October 19th meeting.
Ongoing Project Updates
Zoning Update: The Boston Avenue zoning drafted in late June has been finalized and submitted to the City Council, which was scheduled to take it up on September 15. With the current planning consultant’s contract ending, the City planned to issue an RFP for a consultant to cover roughly the next two and a half years.
Medford High School – Section 106 Review: Consultants completed exterior photography of the Medford High School complex on the day of the meeting. They planned to prepare an MHC area form that documents the complex building by building.
Cross Street Cemetery: Conservation work funded through the Community Preservation Act was moving quickly. The contractor was about three-quarters of the way through restoring 85 gravestones. While resetting stones that had been damaged by a fallen tree about ten years ago, the crew discovered 10 headstones buried in the ground, and a change order was added to restore them. Remaining funds were set aside for recreating a missing veteran’s stone. The restored gate was nearly finished, awaiting welding, painting, and reinstallation, and the wall repairs were almost complete. A consultant was scheduled to carry out ground-penetrating radar (GPR) within this month at Cross Street and at the downtown site in Medford Square, and had offered to scan the entire cemetery. The results were expected to show where people are actually buried to determine whether any other accidentally buried headstones remain.
The Commission set its next meeting for Monday, October 5, a week early because the second Monday fell on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. That meeting was set to include three Preferably Preserved hearings: 15 Maple Park Avenue “Hegner Center”, 71 Mystic Avenue, and 73 Surrey Street. Because of the calendar, a second October meeting will be held on October 19th.
Preservation efforts in Medford is an ongoing process of research, review, and collaboration with property owners, city staff, and the broader community. We encourage residents to stay involved by attending meetings with us, staying up to date with our project updates , or sharing what they know about historic properties in their neighborhoods with us.
The Medford Historical Commission is asking for community input on the proposed South Medford Connector Path, a project that will connect the General Lawrence Bridge (near Wegmans) to Winthrop Street with a new path along Route 16.
The Commission supports this project and believes this missing link is an important investment in our community. However, we also believe there’s an opportunity to make it even better.
Rather than placing the path primarily alongside Route 16, we’re encouraging MassDOT and DCR to take a closer look at bringing portions of the path between the Lawrence Bridge and Cradock Bridge on Main Street closer to the Mystic River, creating a safer, quieter, and more scenic experience while strengthening the connection between people and one of Medford’s greatest natural and historic resources.
A river oriented path could: – Better connect residents to the Mystic River – Create a more enjoyable walking and biking experience – Complete the vision of continuous paths along both sides of the river – Celebrate the landscape that helped define Medford for generations
MassDOT has responded to our initial comments, and we’d like to hear from the community before submitting our next response. Join us at the next Commission meeting on Monday, July 13th at 7:00 PM via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82632918053
To prepare for the meeting, we have uploaded relevant project materials:
Whether you support our recommendations, have concerns, or simply want to learn more about the project, we welcome your input. Community voices will help ensure this project becomes not just a transportation improvement, but a lasting public space that reflects the best of Medford. Emails in advance of the meeting are always welcome (historicalcommission@medford-ma.gov) and will be included in the record as well as any response back to MassDOT.
2018 Feasibility Study proposed path alignment.
2026 Mass DOT proposal based on the latest design drawings submitted for our review.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Winter constantly reminds us that it still has plenty of authority in New England. The recent snowfall blanketed streets, roofs, and vehicles across Medford, giving the city a look that residents of earlier centuries would have recognized immediately. Heavy snows have long shaped life in Massachusetts. Colonial records describe winters when roads vanished and travel halted for days at a time. Most famously, the Great Snow of 1717 brought repeat storms in March, resulting in snow drifts that reached second story windows in houses. While this week’s snow has been far less dramatic, it serves as a reminder that winter weather has always been part of the region’s story and it could stick with us as late as April (remember that April Fools Storm?).
We will hold our next public meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Our agenda has been posted, and the meeting materials follow. We are meeting remotely via Zoom. Members of the public are welcome to attend, observe, and participate where appropriate.
Our evening will commence with a public hearing for 36 Mystic Street. The Commission will consider whether the building should be designated as preferably preserved.
The hearing will begin with a brief explanation of the demolition review process and the role of the Historical Commission in determining significance and preservation status. Commissioners will review the building’s previously established historical significance and discuss how it fits within the city’s demolition delay ordinance.
Following the presentation, the Commission will open the floor for comments. Commissioners will speak first, followed by members of the public who wish to provide input. Written comments may also be submitted before or during the hearing.
After the discussion concludes, the Commission will revisit its motion and vote on whether the building should be considered preferably preserved. The hearing will then conclude with a summary of the next steps.
Determination of Significance: The Commission will continue its regular public meeting agenda. We will review two properties for a determination of significance.
17 Sharon Street: The house at 17 Sharon Street in Medford, known historically as the Gooch Tenant House, was built between about 1872 and 1889 by local builder Joseph L. Gooch as part of the subdivision of the former Smith Estate in West Medford. The modest story-and-a-half end-house reflects late-19th-century residential development tied to the growth of railroad suburbs. Although later alterations such as vinyl siding and window changes have obscured some architectural details, the building retains its original form and setting within a dense historic neighborhood. Historically it functioned largely as a rental property, housing working-class tenants connected to local trades and industries.
85 Marshall Street: The Edward W. and Ella L. Amory Wall House at 85 Marshall Street in Medford was built between 1886 and 1889 as a modest Italianate-style end house typical of late-19th-century suburban development. It was constructed for blacksmith Edward W. Wall, a Canadian immigrant, who lived there with his family and owned the property until 1947. Wall also developed additional nearby houses on the same parcel, helping shape the surrounding residential streetscape. The property sits on land historically connected to holdings of the Adams family, including John Quincy Adams, linking the site to earlier patterns of land ownership in the Hillside neighborhood.
Old Business and Project Updates: The remainder of the meeting will include updates on several ongoing initiatives and preservation efforts across the city, including: – Properties currently under demolition delay. – Progress on our Annual Report. – Update on the Brooks Estate Archaeological Survey. -CPC Projects – Work at Cross Street Cemetery – Ongoing Historic Survey Work in Hastings Heights
Point of Rocks in West Medford. Constructed in 1859, the house once stood in the Brooks Estate. It has since been demolished.
Residents are always encouraged to attend our meetings or submit comments for the record. Community participation is an important part of the demolition review process and helps ensure that Medford’s historic resources are fully considered.
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.
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.
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.
