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On Tuesday, the Sudbury Historical Commission continued their discussions around the tercentenary markers found roadside in Sudbury. Questions have been raised about the historical accuracy of the language on the markers, as well as concerns that some of them may be offensive to Native people.
The Historical Commission conducted an inventory of the markers and members did some additional research. (2:00:00) Chair Chris Hagger informed the commissioners that he had a conversation with a cultural resource officer at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) and learned that Mass DOT does not have the authority to remove the markers, only to repair and maintain them.
Hagger suggested that the best route to get something done with regard to the markers will likely require legislative action, and that Sudbury may need to engage its State representatives to advance some sort of state-wide action.
There was also discussion about generating a report or materials for the Town website that might explain the one-sided narrative presented by the markers and provide factual corrections. Commissioner Bill Andreas called for a two-part response, including advocacy at the State level and partnership with the Sudbury Historical Society to leverage their website to inform the public about the history of the signs, generate community conversation, and provide a better historical perspective. He also called for fixing another “glaring error” on one of the signs, and threw some historical shade at Henry Ford with regard to the Hop Brook Mill marker (it claims it was owned by Henry Ford):
“…and correct the one glaring error, which is, I don’t believe the Hop Brook Mill was ever owned by Henry Ford. He tried to buy it and failed, and had that put on the sign because he was pissed off.” (2:22:17)
Andreas also cautioned the commission not to take the path that nearby Concord recently took when they just removed the markers on their own “for maintenance.” He suggested that it’s not certain that Mass DOT will just look the other way.
Based on Tuesday’s meeting, the Historical Commission is likely to continue discussing the markers in future meetings, with an eye towards engaging more community stakeholders in the process. Any near-term action regarding the markers seems unlikely given the jurisdictional complexity that was raised during the meeting.