About the Historic District Commission/Historic Commission
Petersham takes pride in its history. Through the diligent hard work of town residents and the commitment of the voters, the Petersham Historic District was established in 1967. It was only the eighth town in the entire commonwealth to establish a Historic District.
The Petersham Historic District Commission comprises seven members and functions per Article XII of the town bylaws. As described in the bylaws, the purpose of the Commission is:
“… to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics of buildings, places, and districts of historic and architectural significance in the Town of Petersham, through the maintenance of appropriate settings for such buildings, places, and districts as a tangible reminder of the historic tradition of the Town of Petersham.”
The District contains more than forty structures from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s and is home to fine examples of a wide range of architectural styles, including Colonial, Greek Revival, Federal, Shingle-style, and Contemporary. The District runs the length of South and North Main streets from Barre Road/Rte. 122 at the southern point to St. Peter’s Church at the tip of North Street and North Main Street.
The Commission meets monthly at the Petersham Memorial Library. Meeting and public hearing dates and agendas are posted online.
Historic Commission
Members of the commission are also members of the town-wide Petersham Historic Commission and have input on a variety of historic projects throughout the town, including the town’s circa 1840s one-room schoolhouses.
For more information, please contact the Petersham Historic District/Historic Commission and review Article XII of the town by-laws.
Historic District Commission Project Application
Pursuant to Chapter 211 of the Acts of 1966, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40C and Article XII of the By-laws of the Town of Petersham: Any person who desires to erect, build, construct, reconstruct, restore, alter, move, demolish, remove or change an exterior architectural feature for which a Certificate of Appropriateness is required of any building or structure within the Historic District, or to erect within the Historic District a building, structure or sign for which a Certificate of Appropriateness is required, shall file with the Historic District Commission an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness or an Application for a Permit for Demolition or Removal, as the case may be, together with such plans, elevations, specifications, material and other information, as shall be deemed necessary by the Commission to enable it to make a determination on the application.
- Attach all plans, specifications, descriptions, and any other material (including photographs).
- Within fourteen (14) days after filing this application, the Historic District Commission will make a determination whether any external architectural features subject to approval are involved.
- Should the Commission determine that no external architectural features subject to approval are involved; the Commission will issue a Certificate to that effect.
- Should the Commission determine that external architectural features subject to approval are involved; the Commission shall hold a Public Hearing on the Application.
- Following the Public Hearing and within forty-five (45) days after filing this application, the Commission shall make a determination of the Application.
In passing on appropriateness, the Commission shall consider, among other things, the historic value and significance of the site, building, or structure, the general design, arrangement, texture, material and color of the features involved, and the relation of such factors to similar factors of sites, buildings and structures in the immediate surroundings. The Commission shall consider the appropriateness of the size and shape of the building or structure in relation to the land area upon which the building or structure is situated and to the neighboring sites, buildings, or structures within the district. The Commission shall also consider the applicable zoning and other By-laws of the town.