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 The Marshfield Historical Commission was formed in 1964 through the efforts of the late Frank Hughes, Town Clerk. It is the official town historical body and is governed by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8d. Members of the seven-member commission are appointed for three-year terms by the Board of Selectmen and serve as a liaison with the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Currently meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:30p.m. At Town
Hall.
Current members are Chairman, Lawrence A. Whalen, Vice Chairman, Regina Porter, Recording Secretary, Jane Davidson, Treasure, Otis Carney, Correspondence Secretary, Rosemary Haviland, Alfred Almeida, James Cantwell and Associate Member, Norma Haskins.
The Marshfield Historical Commission functions as the promoter and caretaker of a number of historical properties that it has either acquired or been given. Among these is the Daniel Webster Law Office, a National Historic Landmark owned by the Commission but leased to the Historic Winslow House Association, which is responsible for the maintenance of the building. The Blacksmith Shop, acquired and owned by the Commission is also leased to the Winslow House Association with the care and upkeep under the control of the Marshfield Historical Society.
 The 1854 Concord Coach, authentically restored in 1982 by the Edward Rouse Company of Louden, New Hampshire, is owned and maintained by the Historical Commission who is responsible for its upkeep and preservation. The coach can be viewed by the public at the Historic Winslow House.
In addition to these properties, the Historical Commission has been responsible for the town purchase and the restoration of the Daniel Webster Estate. This has been accomplished through appropriations from the town meetings, the acquisition of state grants, Community Preservation funding and gifts from individuals. This is an ongoing project in which the Historical Commission continues to be very much involved. The property has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Commission also holds covenants on the Champion Little-Leaf Linden Tree that stands near the Webster Estate.
The Commission started a program of procuring preservation covenants for sections of the Pilgrim Trail in the 1970s. This ancient Indian path was designated a road by the Plymouth Court in 1637 and is probably the first court-ordered road in the country. It leads from Plymouth to Scituate and was the way used by the early settlers of the town to come to their outlying farms. By preserving this trail through covenants recorded at the Plymouth Registry of Deeds the Marshfield Historical Commission and the Massachusetts Historical Commission are preserving this important way forever.
The Historical Commission was given jurisdiction over the Town Training Green in 1984. Town Meeting Article 32 transferred control and custody of the Green from the Board of Selectmen to the Historical Commission.
The Historical Commission has been responsible for the publication of several items relating to Marshfield history. These include the booklet Of Tea and Tories, a map of Historic Marshfield, and several pamphlets on various aspects of the town history. These are available at the Commission's office at Town Hall.
Other ongoing Historical Commission activities include identifying and marking significant historical sites with granite markers (over forty in all), marking other sites with bronze tablets, working with the cemetery department to preserve the old stones in our cemeteries, working with the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals both in the appropriate naming of new streets and in the assessment of new subdivision proposals to protect and/or retain the historic value of the areas in question. The commission has also been responsible for implementing the State Scenic Road Act (MGL, 40, 15c) and the Shade Tree Protection Act (MGL Ch. 87-3). The Commission cooperates with the Massachusetts Historical Commission Archivist for the preservation of sensitive archaeological sites in the town. We notify the state and the various boards in
Marshfield when an archaeological site is encroached upon either by an individual or a developer. Many archaeological sites have been investigated and one site has been designated an Indian Storage Site on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historical Commission maintains extensive files of memorabilia and artifacts in a vault in Town Hall. The Commission purchases items of historical importance to the town when possible. We participate at Town Events of historic significance, answer queries about town history or genealogy, tour visitors about the town, and participate in the annual Open House in conjunction with the Historic Winslow House Association and the Marshfield Historical Society. We are currently working on an application to designate Marshfield Hills for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
We are proud of our achievements over the forty-five years of our existence, especially the preservation of the Daniel Webster Law Office, the Blacksmith shop, the portraits of Winslow and Webster that hang in the Town Hall foyer, the erection of the Peregrine White weathervane on the Town Hall, the preservation of the land at Old Winslow Burying ground, the restoration of the Training Green to its original shape, the preservation of the Pilgrim Trail, the restoration of the Concord Coach, the celebration of the Daniel Webster Bicentennial, the completion of the survey of the town's historical assets done by a consultant in 1990-1991, our ongoing granite marker program, our publications, our part in the celebration of the town's 350th Anniversary in 1990 and our more recent and continuing work to restore and preserve the Daniel Webster
Estate.
  Other Historical Photo’s are the Marshfield Fair and Brant Rock beach. | |
