Historic commission moves to map properties using county GIS, photos and QR codes

The Springfield Township Historic Commission at its May 28 meeting discussed a plan to use the County GIS system to mark and publish historic properties, including a photo overlay and QR codes linking to additional information. Commission members said the idea has renewed momentum and that a project to build layers and link records is underway.

Commission members said a public-facing GIS overlay could include past ownership and genealogy information where appropriate, and that tying records at the Springfield Township Historical Society to the Township's GIS would make local history more accessible. The discussion noted privacy concerns and the need to balance objective historical data with confidentiality when considering ownership or genealogy details.

Members framed the effort as outreach and awareness rather than enforcement. Bruce Whitesell noted the County system "has a lot of layers to its system" and asked whether Springfield could capitalize on that existing infrastructure. The commission discussed adding historic-property photos, creating links via QR codes at sites around the township, and preparing material the Township could post for residents seeking background on designated properties.

Next steps discussed included continuing the technical work on GIS layers, coordinating with the Historical Society, and preparing recommendations the commission could forward to the Board of Supervisors for any required approvals.