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Commission discusses city plaques and medallion design, seeks funding options
Summary
The commission discussed creating a coordinated program of plaques and a small bronze medallion award to recognize preservation projects, considered imagery options (river, Holyoke Range, simplified city seal), and identified possible funding sources including the commission's gift account and a Community Preservation Act design grant.
Members of the Northampton Historical Commission discussed a proposal to develop a coordinated system of historic markers and a small bronze medallion to serve as a preservation award and to create consistent city signage for designated properties.
Hannah (commission member) said she met with staff at Historic Northampton and had been researching imagery and original seal elements, and she expects to present draft imagery at the commission's next meeting. Commission members favored simple imagery that would reproduce at small sizes (about 6 inches) for a bronze medallion and larger sign standards for entrance markers to local historic districts.
The commission reviewed available funding. Sarah (staff member) said the commission has a gift account that can accept donations but that much of the balance is reserved for work at Northampton State Hospital; the account also contains modest proceeds from historic-book sales. The group discussed applying for a Community Preservation Act (CPA) design grant (January deadline) to fund professional design work to develop a consistent set of markers, medallions and specifications for materials and mounting.
Members suggested possible motifs including the river and the Holyoke Range silhouette, simplified elements from the city seal, or a skyline or single building silhouette. The commission discussed practical constraints: a 6-inch bronze medallion limits pictorial detail, mounting and weight considerations for residential installation, and text choices (how much wording to include on a small award). Members also discussed the larger entrance signs at the Elm Street local-historic-district ends, which are deteriorating and may need replacement with coordinated standards.
Hannah offered to arrange an evening group tour of Historic Northampton's current exhibit for commissioners and the public. Commission members asked Hannah to compile imagery and options for the next meeting so the group can consider a CPA application in January.
No formal vote or funding commitment was recorded at the meeting.
