From the Town of Yarmouth’s website:
October 4, 2017 – In an effort to recognize, preserve, and enhance the community’s historic resources, the Town of Yarmouth will be conducting an Architectural Survey of historic homes, civic structures, and commercial buildings in the village over the next year.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to document Yarmouth’s older homes and structures and gain a greater understanding of the historic fabric of the town,” said Katie Worthing, Executive Director of the Yarmouth Historical Society. “Collecting these photos and architectural details now will be a great step toward documenting our history and preserving a snapshot of Yarmouth at this moment for future residents, students, and researchers.”
Volunteers will be taking photographs of each building over 50 years old, and will collect information about each building’s condition, age, architectural style, and other details to be included in the Maine Historic Preservation Commission Database of Cultural and Architectural Resources (CARMA). The work will incorporate and build on surveys conducted by the Village Improvement Society in the 1970s. All the information and photographs will be added to the state’s CARMA online database and will be publicly accessible there.
This is the first phase of a multi-year initiative to document historic architectural resources within the Town. This first phase will focus on the Village, which includes an estimated 550 structures built before 1965. Once it is complete, other areas of Town will be surveyed.
A preservation consultant will be hired to oversee the survey, and report to a Committee that includes representatives from the Town Planning Department, Yarmouth Historical Society, Village Improvement Society, Maine Preservation, Greater Portland Landmarks, and local citizens who are active in historic preservation.
This project is being funded in part by a $12,850 Matching Grant from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. It is expected to be complete by September 30, 2018.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED
Up to 20 volunteers will be needed to complete the survey, including photography, survey, and data entry. Training will be provided. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Katie Worthing, Executive Director of the Yarmouth Historical Society at kworthing@yarmouthmehistory.org.
BACKGROUND OF THE SURVEY
This survey stems from a series of public hearings and a community-wide survey in which residents said that they support preserving the Town’s historic character. That feedback was incorporated into the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a guide for decisions the Town makes about growth, development, and change. The Comprehensive Plan calls for:
• Completing a survey of potentially historic buildings and structures and developing a list of “locally significant historic properties.
• Conducting a design analysis of historic buildings to catalogue the key elements that need to be considered in the modification of historically significant buildings.
“The Town of Yarmouth prides itself on its historic character,” said Alex Jaegerman, Yarmouth’s Director of Planning and Development. “Understanding our historic resources will position the Town to make informed and careful policy decisions to ensure that the historic character that contributes to the function and character of the Town is protected and enhanced in the face of projected growth and change.”
