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First Parish seeks small Wright Tavern entrance sign as larger restoration planning continues with $521,000 National Park Service grant
Summary
First Parish requested permission to place a small wood replica sign by a side door to mark an entrance to the Wright Tavern room while the group develops larger, accessible entrance plans funded in part by a $521,000 National Park Service grant; the HDC asked for scaled mock-ups, measured elevations, and smaller alternatives and continued the matter.
Representatives for the First Parish/Right Tavern sought the commission’s guidance on placing a small, wood, gold‑lettered replica of a historic Wright Tavern sign adjacent to a secondary doorway and discussed larger plans for a new entrance.
Tom (First Parish representative) said the sign would replicate an existing wood sign found in an attic but in a reduced size (planned roughly 5 feet long by 6 inches high) to mark an interior entrance for tour groups and visitors. He told the commission the parish has received a National Park Service grant of $521,000 to begin exterior repairs and that overall project funding and outstanding project balance total nearly $800,000 (figure presented by applicant as available project balance) to support broader restoration work and an accessible entrance in the coming year.
Commissioners cautioned against adding a second prominent sign on the same façade without careful scaling and suggested alternatives: a smaller mounted replica, a ground‑mounted orientation sign, painted lettering on an existing block, or combining front and side signage into a single, integrated panel. Commissioners also asked for a measured drawing of the proposed location and a photograph mock-up (for example, a taped paper at full scale) to show how the sign will sit relative to the storage/access doors and sidewalk.
Given the need for scaled visuals and consideration of alternatives, the commission voted unanimously to continue the sign application and asked the applicant to return with dimensioned drawings and a photograph or mock‑up showing the sign at the proposed location.
Next steps: the applicant will provide measured elevations, a photo or taped mock‑up, and smaller‑scale options; HDC staff will place the item at the top of 'other business' if the applicant wishes to seek informal design feedback on future entrance concepts ahead of a formal proposal.
