Commission reviews town inventory showing hundreds of historic homes and rising demolitions

At the Jan. 5 meeting, the Dennis Historical Commission reviewed a newly compiled inventory showing counts of historic houses (75 years or older) by village and demolition totals over time.

Bob Poskett presented the one‑page summary, noting village‑level counts and century‑based breakdowns. His data showed hundreds of standing historic properties across Dennis villages and a substantial number already demolished. "This is the first time we've put the data together this way," Poskett said, urging the commission to use the summary to improve public awareness.

Commissioners discussed data accuracy limits — the inventory does not cover every home and some entries rely on available records rather than comprehensive field surveys — and suggested sharing the results with partner organizations that review demolitions, such as the Old Kings Highway and village commissions, as a first line of review. They also proposed using the town website, tourism pages and the Museum of Art exhibit to publicize at‑risk properties and preservation awards in May as a way to drive local interest.

Members noted practical limits: privately owned properties may be cash‑strapped and the commission cannot force repairs, and public nomination to Preservation Massachusetts carries criteria that not all properties will meet. Still, commissioners cited prior successes — two locally nominated properties that later received state recognition and subsequent restoration interest — as evidence that publicity can spur positive outcomes.

The commission also launched a photo‑digitization effort to preserve recent local memory and discussed assigning members to follow up on active files and demolition notifications.