[MassHistPres] Historic Building Plaques

[george boyd]

The Brewster Historical Commission is finishing a multi-year effort 
creating new and updating older Form-B's for the 300 or so Historical 
structures in our town. Does anyone have sources of manufacturers who 
produce historical plaques of metal?

George Boyd

Brewster Historical Commission

On 3/23/2026 11:55 AM, Susan Morreale via MassHistPres wrote:
> In Gloucester, we do not have specific guidelines. Because, however, 
> MACRIS listings (Form B) are notoriously in need of updating per the 
> state (see below), we require our historic plaque applicants to do 
> in-depth research of the building, relying on our Archives Committee 
> to do the research. The Commission then, does further research to 
> update the MACRIS listing. In many cases, we change the historic name 
> to match the updated research, in particular, adding a wife's name if 
> married to the person/man on the deed. BTW - the ship in the arch is 
> the Ernestina-Morrisey, the state vessel and the only surviving 19th 
> century Gloucester-built fishing schooner.
>
> Regards,
> - Susan
>
> *Susan Morreale*
> Gloucester Historical Commission 
> <https://gloucester-ma.gov/109/Historical-Commission>
> Gloucester, MA
> 617.852.2373
>
>
>
> 2023-2031 Draft - Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Plan
> Page 23 Documentation and Protection: “…there were pushes in the 1970s 
> and 1980s in many communities to document their historic resources, 
> but since that time many of these inventories have not been revisited 
> or updated. These earlier generation inventory forms may be missing 
> historic documentation that is now more readily accessible digitally, 
> and there may be resources that were not surveyed because they were 
> then considered too recent.”
> Source: 
> https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/mhc/download/2023-2031-state%20hist-pres-plan-comment.pdf 
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> On 3/21/2026 2:22 PM, JB via MassHistPres wrote:
>> The Lenox Historical Commission has an Historic Building Plaque 
>> Program which has usually used the building's Form B as a reference 
>> for the Historic Name. In a few cases we have used the Common Name 
>> when it is listed on the Form B and has wide community recognition.
>>
>> We are currently developing a set of guidelines to help commission 
>> members better decide between when to use the Historic Name or the 
>> Common Name.
>>
>> I have searched about 10 town's plaque program details without 
>> finding any examples or helpful information.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any towns that might have such guidelines?
>>
>> We welcome your comments.
>>
>> Jim BIancolo
>> Lenox Historical Commission
>> Volunteer
>>
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>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
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>
>
>
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