Historical Commission - Historic Properties Survey Project — October 20, 2026

On October 20, 2026, the Fairhaven Historical Commission held a public informational forum regarding the town's Historic Properties Survey Project, chaired by Rick Martin. The project, funded by Community Preservation Act (CPC) funds awarded the previous year, aims to develop a comprehensive survey plan and roadmap to document historical resources across Fairhaven. Consultant Chris Skelly of Skelly Preservation Services, who previously spent 23 years with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, delivered a detailed presentation explaining the survey process, Massachusetts Historical Commission form types, and the town's current survey gaps.

Skelly explained that Fairhaven's existing historical survey was largely compiled in 1978 and 1979 by volunteers, heavily concentrating on 19th-century maritime properties in Fairhaven Center while leaving modern architectural narratives incomplete and excluding nearly all 20th-century resources and outlying neighborhoods like Sconticut Neck, East Fairhaven, Oxford Village, and West Island. The survey project involves building an updated database of historical properties, taking digital photographs, and establishing prioritization criteria for hiring professional architectural historians for multi-year survey work.

During the public input portion, commission members and residents raised ideas for survey priorities, including post-World War II suburban housing developments, textile mill worker housing from 1890 to the 1920s, and historic properties threatened by redevelopment or coastal erosion. Attendees also discussed the house plaque program research housed at the Millicent Library archives, documentation standards for non-building structures and archaeological sites, and digital photo requirements. Chair Rick Martin also read a letter from Jason Lanigan advocating for Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40C historic districts, and noted that the commission intends to return to Town Meeting and the CPC for future funding to execute the survey forms.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Watch the video to verify.