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Residents, veterans ask selectmen to move WWI memorial from Four Corners; historic protections complicate plan
Summary
Veterans groups and residents asked the board to relocate a World War I stone to Veterans Park for safety and visibility; the Historic Commission noted the marker’s 1918 origin and possible National Register status, prompting the board to research legal and preservation constraints and consider a faithful replica as an alternative.
Members of the Freetown Memorial Park Association and Historic Commission told the board they want the World War I memorial stone moved from the busy Four Corners intersection to Veterans Park to improve public access and reduce risks from traffic.
"We're requesting that it goes over there with the World War 1 and I mean, World War 2 memorial and the other police and the fire memorial," said Bruce Wober, president of the Freetown Memorial Park Association, describing the group's preference to consolidate monuments at Veterans Park. Historic Commission members warned the plaque and boulder date to 1918 and said the monument may be listed on the National Register, which could limit relocation without a formal review. As one commissioner put it, "There's a problem about, it being removed is because it's on the national register." (Historic Commission member Mary Elizabeth Resendiz Brown)
Board members said they share the desire to honor veterans while protecting historic fabric. The chair asked staff and the veterans agent to check preservation rules and return with guidance; the board discussed alternatives including producing a replica plaque or duplicate stone at the park if the original cannot be moved. Association leaders also sought help with fundraising and possible site improvements (benches, planting) to make the memorial more accessible and visible to residents and visiting students.
The board agreed to gather information from state historic preservation authorities and reconvene once the town has a clear legal pathway, or to pursue a town‑authorized replica if the historic listing prevents relocation.
