Harvard residents who live in antique homes know that for all the headaches an old house can bring, there is also the joy of being among a long line of stewards who have loved and cared for the house before you. Now there is a way to publicly show the age of your home, something of which houses, unlike some people, are very proud. The Harvard Historical Commission has announced a new program whereby any historical house or site in town can purchase and display a customized marker. The commission has set a low introductory price of only $20 for each plaque.
The marker on Ken and Daria Swanton’s Fairbank Street home. (Courtesy photo)
Any home, barn or other structure built before 1900 qualifies for an historical marker, as does any architecturally significant building of any date or any archeological site. Buildings do not have to be in an historic district to qualify for a marker. The commission hopes that the plaques will increase public awareness of the rich history of Harvard.
The markers are 9 by 12 inches and made of a low-maintenance white material that will not rot nor require paint. Their low cost is made possible by a commission member who has volunteered to create the blanks for each marker and the graphics company that has offered an attractive price to produce them. No town funds are involved.
The first marker has already been placed on the Luke Pollard house, the 1806 white brick house at 14 Fairbank Street, adjacent to Harvard Common, which is the home of Historical Commission Chairman Ken Swanton and his wife Daria.
To find out more about the program, go to the Historical Commission’s website and click on the house marker. This website also has a database of over 500 historical properties in town to look up the background of each property.
