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Middleton commission designates Mary Street pillars the 'Elm Lawn School Pillars' after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing with residents and the historical society, the Middleton Landmarks Commission voted to designate the Mary Street pillars as the Elm Lawn School Pillars, directing staff to verify historical name and construction date and to work with residents on plaque content and mounting.
The Middleton Landmarks Commission voted to designate the Mary Street pillars as the Elm Lawn School Pillars following a public hearing in which residents and the historical society urged recognition of the site’s local history.
The move followed public comment praising the restoration work and urging a plaque that reflects community usage. An unidentified resident who lives across from the site described the pillars as “a really cool sort of little architectural” feature and said neighborhood memory connects the pillars with the Elm Lawn School. Mary Lam Feldman, who worked on the designation form, asked that the brass plaque be labeled the Elm Lawn School Pillars and offered to help draft text and provide archives research.
Commissioners and members of the historical society discussed verification of the pillars’ original name and construction date — the transcript records both 1912 and 1913 — and agreed staff should check historical records before finalizing the plaque. Daphne read back the motion: “motion by Lewis, seconded by Myers to designate the Mary Street pillars as the Elm Lawn School pillars, fulfilling criterion 6.” The commission then called the question and approved the designation.
Members also discussed practical considerations for installing a plaque. One commissioner cautioned the reconstructed pillars may have hollow cores, which could make drilling for a plaque damaging; the commission agreed to consider a freestanding plaque or mounting on a rock or stand to avoid harming hollow brickwork. The commission committed to follow up with Mary Lam Feldman and with the historical-society liaison to finalize plaque wording, determine whether the monument’s official construction year should read 1912 or 1913, and decide on mounting during a site review.
The commission closed the public hearing and directed staff to coordinate next steps, including contacting the historical society and property owners as needed.
