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Ross Historical Society proposes self‑guided Historic Walk with small plaques and QR links
Summary
Tom Gaffney told the Ross ADR the Ross Historical Society plans a self‑guided Ross Historic Walk with unobtrusive plaques and QR codes; the society will seek property‑owner permission for each plaque and estimates costs of roughly $500 each, potentially up to $900 for larger signs.
Tom Gaffney, presenting for the Ross Historical Society, asked the ADR to support a self‑guided Ross Historic Walk made up of small plaques and web‑linked writeups. He said the society has collected photographs and text for many sites and plans to host the background information electronically so that anyone with a phone can read the full writeups via QR code. "It's about, something that the Ross Historical Society, together with the Ross property owners, is planning to do," he said.
Gaffney told the board that each plaque will require permission from the property owner for both the physical sign and the written copy, and that material choice and legibility are practical constraints. He warned that bronze or brass can be subject to theft and said the society is considering aluminum with a process that resists theft. He estimated the initial plaques cost about $500 each and said a larger plaque could be closer to $900, noting those figures when board members asked about scaling and visibility.
Board members raised questions about QR‑code contrast and plaque size — particularly for older residents' sightlines — and suggested mockups and full‑scale prints to test readability in different light. Gaffney said the society would try slightly larger prototypes and explore a town map or printed list to complement the on‑site plaques. The applicant said the mayor asked him to present to ADR and that he expects to bring the proposal to the town council next; ADR members encouraged the society to document property‑owner permissions and bring finished sample materials to the council.
