Town Of Rochester Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Monday, April 19th, 2021; 2:30 PM – 4:30PM; Held on Zoom

Attending: Wilton Duckworth (Chair), Joan Ewing, Alice Cross, Elaine LaFlamme, Deborah Medenbach, Gloria Mirsky, Joanne Mariner, Suzanne Miedema, Natalie Schults

Guests: Mike Baden, Town Supervisor

Absent: Jens Verhaugh, Franz (Frank) Dannecker, Ryan Fitzgerald, Shirley Avery

Proposed Agenda:
1. Bring the Meeting to Order
2. Approve the Minutes of the February 8th, 2021 Meeting
3. Approve Agenda
4. Preservation
a. Three Sites—90 St. Josen, Maybrook Lodge, Accord Train Station
b. Courses/Training—Research Possible Courses-volunteer opportunity, Visits to Sites and our own homes to look at historic features
Questions:
a. What do we bring with us, when we meet an owner about a proposed change to an historic house, building or site?
b. What questions do we ask?
c. What do we tell them?
d. How can we work with the Planning Board to protect historic sites? Historic District Overlay
5. Ash Tree Arts Festival
a. Report by Deb Medenbach; Deb, what do you need?
6. Friends Of Historic Rochester Museum
a. Report by Alice Cross; Alice, what do you need
7. Historic Canal Walks/Train Walks/ Presentations Around Fire at the Community Center
a. Heritage Day—what events make sense to do on this day? (Early October)
b. Historic Canal and Train Walks—Timing during the season to best see
artifacts, walks that are led, with presentations along the way, independent walks c. Presentations as part of walks or around the fire pit at Community Center—what presentations can be part of a walk? What presentations need more time and an audience, who can sit and listen?
d. Volunteer Opportunities
-Research history and stories about the trains
-Research Pre-Colonial History, Reach out to potential presenters
-Research contributions of African American residents, Reach out to
potential presenters
-Research music of the canals and trains, Reach out to musicians
-Select stories from “The Raging Canal” and other sources, Reach out to
local actors, who might want to perform the stories during a walk.
-Research Farms and Farmers, a possible topic for around the fire,
Reach out to possible presenters
e. Select a program committee
5. Additional Agenda Items
6. Approve the Meeting

The meeting was called to order with a motion by WIlton Duckworth at 2:34 PM and seconded by Gloria Mirsky. Motion Carried.

Minutes:
1. Preservation – Wilton discussed the preservation of three sites, including 90 St Josen St and the old Post Office proposal for a new addition that looks the same as the current structure but is straight.
a. The current owners of the Accord Train Station are going to put up 5ft solid fencing in an attempt for privacy for their AirBNB guests. The whole commission should be aware of communications back and forth and will send out an email asking the homeowner to reconsider hiding away a valuable aspect of the community’s history.

2. Ash Tree Arts Festival – The trees have been cut down. Twenty one trees are mapped and numbered. The event will be centralized at the Town Hall on June 5th, 7AM – 5:30PM.
a. Folk music, acoustic music, and spoken word amongst musicians was suggested. PA is requested for announcements.
b. Press release to the local newspapers – out by the 28th.

3. Friends of Historic Rochester Museum – Joanne & Ryan have taken up a lot of work with Alice.
a. Social media, website, and The Accordion online need to be worked on. Maybe Paypal can be used for a mail and email version of The Accordion? There should be an electronic system for any news that the museum has to offer; For example, letters going out to new owners, Heritage Day information, other related event information, and a general email address where people can raise questions and get answers.

4. Canal Walks/Train Walks/Presentations Around the Fire
a. Heritage Day – What related events can we have on this day that make sense? Alice says that the event is very broad and all encompassing, usually located behind the museum. Joan suggested Evan Pritchard speaks about the Native American history of the area. Mike suggested a canal walk, and Alice suggested it be after lunch because that’s when the event usually starts to slow down.
b. Fire Pit – for another event or part of Heritage Day, used to hear speakers discuss pre colonial history and contributions of African American residents i.e. Peg Leg Bates, Father Divine, Wicky Wacky night club.

5. Elaine LaFlamme Resigning from HPC – Elaine resigned to avoid a conflict of interest as the Town Judge.

Motion to adjourn was made by Wilton Duckworth and seconded by Joan Ewing. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 4:32PM.