Storytelling is an integral part of history. Stories teach, they inspire, they motivate, they caution. Stories tell where you have been and where you are and where you hope to go in the future. Through Storytellers we share local preservation stories that can serve to educate and inspire others, and ourselves. Our August Storyteller installment comes from the town of Dalton, where the historical commission worked for 14 years to save and preserve a tiny house that had a

The Elm Arch Inn in Falmouth has a new owner and a new vision! The historic inn was placed on the 2014 Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources list when it was proposed for demolition. Local advocates and the Falmouth Preservation Alliance worked to promote the inn to buyers interested in investing in an historic inn that had meant so much to Falmouth and Cape Cod for 200 years. Now the Elm Arch Inn will be restored and reused as a vacation center for families who ha

SAVE THE DATE Thursday, September 13, 2018 9:00 – 11:30 AM Wellfleet Historic Preservation Workshop Preservation Hall The Wellfleet Historical Commission is pleased to present a free workshop on the benefits of preserving historic properties. Join us as we explore Wellfleet’s architectural history. Speakers from the Cape Cod Commission, the preservation community, and the real estate profession will share expert insights into what makes Wellfleet's built environment so spe

Get Outside: Exploring Local History Through Walking Tours Summer is a great time to get outside and explore local history whether you are on vacation or in your own backyard. Fortunately in Massachusetts, there are lots of selfguided walking tours and trails that will guide you through some of the state’s best and little known neighborhoods. Some of the following self-guided tours include maps you can print out, while others are viewed on a mobile device using an app. Here

Submitted by Carolina Galliher, Dalton MA On August 3, the Fitch-Hoose House in Dalton was dedicated after a restoration. Here is some history of this historic house and the history and stories it represents. History of the Fitch-Hoose House The house now known as the Fitch-Hoose House, one of the last remaining homes in Dalton belonging to a former slave, is in a part of Dalton called The Gulf. The area once contained a community of African Americans. The house was built in

At a very nice 4th of July BBQ I happened to be asked if I knew about creating historic bike tours. No, not tours on historic bikes (not sure that penny-farthing would be suitable for riding long distances…) but a tour around local history done on bike. And I had no idea. I had been on historic bike tours as part of National Trust conferences but did not know of any local examples right off the top of my head. So, in true preservation partner fashion, I asked. Posting to t

When it comes to preservation, be it a local restoration project, an advocacy campaign or a large-scale historic rehabilitation, partnerships are key. One person, organization or even constituency can’t do it alone, nor should they have to. Preservation as an ethic, not just a vocation, intersects with a lot of different components, from history, culture, planning, zoning, to taxes, finance, development and more. Aligning with different partners is important as we look to