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Commission weighs National Register nomination for White Cliffs and adding beehive stone walls to MACRIS inventory
Summary
The commission heard that a consultant is preparing a National Register nomination for White Cliffs and discussed modifying the town's MACRIS inventory to include nearby beehive stone walls, as well as searching for historic water-system plans and archival records.
The commission received an update that a consultant has begun work on a National Register nomination for White Cliffs and discussed steps the commission could take to extend protections to nearby beehive stone walls.
Bob Light said consultant Carolyn Rafferty (Ryan LLC) is finalizing a contract to prepare a National Register application for White Cliffs and that preservation restrictions will need to be in place before any sale. He said Historic New England was discussed as an option to hold and monitor a preservation restriction, and commissioners estimated such stewardship and monitoring could cost roughly $100,000.
Commissioners discussed a separate public request for historical plans or blueprints that document White Cliffs' private water and cistern piping. Bob Light said he shared Norm Corbin's 2016 architectural and historic report but that original piping blueprints may not be in Springfield archives; members suggested checking town DPW records and Wesson correspondence boxes for contractor names and invoices.
The commission spent substantial time on the master plan goals and the town's MACRIS inventory. Chair Light proposed modifying the White Cliffs MACRIS entry to include beehive stone walls and expanding the historic assets inventory (possibly back 50–75 years) to document features such as beehive walls on Maple Street and near Peaslee School. Commissioners discussed engaging state preservation resources, consulting historic-preservation specialists, and seeking grant funding for surveys and MACRIS amendments.
Commissioners agreed staff should research who authored the original MACRIS report and whether a consultant might be needed to submit modifications. They also discussed outreach to property owners where beehive walls are located to determine authenticity and construction methods before seeking formal protections.
