Memorandum

March 8, 2018

To: Historic District Commission

From: Jonathan Stevens, Planning Director

Re: Historic Plaque Program: A Proposal

Whereas Cumberland has over two hundred buildings of historical significance located in Local
Historic Districts, the Department proposes to initiate a historic plaque program. As Ashton
Village has recently been designated as part of the new Blackstone Valley National Historical
Park, this seems to be a fitting and proper moment to introduce this initiative.

By placing a historic plaque by a building’s front entrance, property owners can demonstrate that
they care that their home or other structure played an important role in in Cumberland’s rich
history. Displaying a plaque increases a property’s curb appeal and strengthens a sense of
community. Visitors will also be able to better appreciate a building’s historical significance.

Program Description
Within Cumberland’s seven historic districts there are a total of 239 properties that would be
potentially eligible. Using information from the National Register of Historic Places, the
Department has historic references for about ¾ of these properties. For those, there is the
potential of referencing the name of the original owner and the date of construction. Mill
housing is usually listed as “Tenement” or Double House”. Historic structures not included in the
National Register present a challenge, requiring researching the records in the Town Clerk’s
office. “Non-contributing” (modern) structures would not be eligible for the plaque program.

A survey of local manufacturers of historic plaques

revealed a Providence-based operation has demonstrated
experience servicing comparable local municipal historic
plaque programs with high quality, custom designed
product, at a very good price point. Ould Colony
Artisans, 73 Devonshire Street, Providence, with their
workshop located on 62 Dike Street, Providence, comes
highly recommended by the Foxborough MA Historical
Commission, among others.
The plaques are made of ½” MDO (Medium Density Overlay) weatherproof maritime signboard,
coated with two coats of oil-based primer and one coat of oil based Chromatic enamel. The edges
are resin-sealed and double-coated. The lettering is custom hand-painted.

It is recommended the plaque be an oval design, as it lends itself to a simple and elegant
presentation. The plaque’s size is approximately 12” x 16”, and priced at $55-65, depending on the
amount of lettering.

Plaques would contain a structure’s date of

construction, original owner name (or historical
reference), and name of the Local Historic District.
Cumberland’s original Town seal would be located
just under the date. Homes without a specific
historical reference will have white space in the area
otherwise reserved for the name of the original
owner.

Getting Started
The Planning Department will send a letter inviting all owners of historic structures listed in
Cumberland’s Local Historic Districts. Property owners can fill out a plaque application, which
could be available online. Ould Colony would generate a price quote, which would be forwarded
to the owners by the Department. Owners would then send the Department a check for the
amount, which would be forwarded to Ould Colony Artisans.

Completed plaques received by the Department, would be presented by the Historic District
Commission to the property owners, who in turn would be able to install their plaques on their
structures.

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Cumberland Local Historic Districts

3
Ashton Historic District

The Ashton
Historic
District
contains 106
registered
historic
structures,
including the
repurposed
Ashton Mill.

4
Lonsdale Historic District

The Lonsdale
Historic
District has
93 structures,
including the
historic Ann
and Hope
(Lonsdale)
Mill.

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Town Hall Historic District

Town Hall Historic District includes 15

structures, including the Town Hall (1894),
situated at the corner of the Broad St/Mill Street
intersection.

Tower Hill Road District (South)

The Tower Hill Road Historic District is one
of the geographically larger and more rural
districts in Cumberland. Located in the
northern part of the town, it includes
seventeen homes.

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Old West Wrentham Road District

The Old West Wrentham Road District

Is located just west of the Tower Hill Road district,
and includes three homes.

Tower Hill Road (North)

The Upper Scott Road District has four historic

homes.

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Diamond Hill Road District

The Diamond Hill Road Historic district is a

single home district located east of the Upper
Scott Road Historic District.

Upper Scott Road District

The Upper Scott Road District has

four historic homes.