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Southborough panel approves four historic-house signs after deed research
Summary
At its June 24 meeting the Southborough Historical Commission approved four historic-house signs—including the Mary and Patrick Buckley House—and resolved several date and name discrepancies after deed and inventory review. Three approvals were unanimous; one passed 4-1.
The Southborough Historical Commission voted June 24 to approve four historic-house signs after reviewing deed research and local inventory reports.
Chair Kevin Miller opened the meeting by noting discrepancies between online property databases and the National Register or deed records, and led commissioners through four applications in the historic-house sign program. The commission approved signs for 7 Latisquam (listed and approved as the Collins–Groton House, circa 1915), 24 East Main (approved as the Mary and Patrick Buckley House, 1900), 32 Latisquamama Road (replacement sign for the Lehey Cottage, site of the Patrick Salmon homestead, circa 1896, approved conditionally pending final spelling confirmation), and 147 Southville Road (approved as the William Libby House, circa 1850). "This is one of the happiest moments of my tenure as chair of the historical commission," Miller said after the group finished the approvals.
The commission cited the National Register inventory and deed research when resolving discrepancies. For 7 Latisquam, commissioners relied on the National Register coverage that lists the bungalow as "circa 1915" and determined the 1936 date in one third-party database was erroneous. For 24 East Main, deed transfers and sale prices tied to a 1900 half-acre lot convinced commissioners that Mary and Patrick Buckley built the house there in 1900, and the commission approved the property name and date.
On 32 Latisquamama Road, members flagged a one-letter difference between a historic photo caption and the homeowner’s existing plaque (Lahey vs. Lehey). The commission approved a replacement sign but directed Chair Miller to confirm the spelling with the homeowner before production.
The vote on 147 Southville Road was split: the commission accepted "William Libby House, circa 1850" (four in favor, one opposed) rather than the homeowner’s preferred specific date of 1847, citing the commission’s practice of deferring to Macris inventory ranges unless deed evidence narrows the date.
Motions and outcomes were recorded by roll call. The chair said the commission will send final art proofs to homeowners for approval before signs are produced and that the commission will encumber funds as necessary before the fiscal year end to cover production.
