Framingham Honors Historical Preservation

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham Historical Commission held their Preservation Achievement Awards at the Edgell Memorial Library on May 26, according to a release.

Four projects received recognition for their efforts to preserve and promote Framingham’s history.

The awards were the closing event of Historic Preservation Month in Framingham. In a press release, former Preservation Achievement Award winner and State Representative Chris Walsh said, “These awards are important because they provide recognition for projects that are often difficult to undertake but ultimately a great benefit for the community.”

According to a release, the honorees of preservation night were:

Donald and Daryl Levy, on behalf of Historic Properties Development Company, LLC, accepted an award for their work to rehabilitate the H. H. Richardson-designed train depot in downtown Framingham. They opened the Deluxe Depot Diner in the historic station in 2015.

President Cevallos accepted an award for the University’s efforts to rehabilitate the John Fiske “1812” House. The University converted the former house and restaurant into the MetroWest College Planning Center.

Interim Director Jim Snyder and Chris McGinty accepted an award to the Town’s Parks & Recreation department for their efforts to stabilize and repair Revolutionary War veterans’ tombs in the Old Burying Ground. Department members took it upon themselves to secure the tombs and then went before Town Meeting to advocate for funds to repair the damaged tombs.

And jointly, for their public/private partnership, the Framingham History Center and the Town of Framingham were given an award for their efforts to secure the building envelope of the Edgell Memorial Library, securing the building and making it a useable space for museum exhibits and events. Accepting the award were Annie Murphy, Director of the History Center, and Selectmen Charles Sisitsky. The project was a top finisher in the National Trust for Historic Preservation/American Express’ “Partners in Preservation” 2009 program, with voting by the public among projects in the Greater Boston area.

Framingham History Center board member Helen Lemoine stated, “This was a long process with funding from a variety of sources, but as champions of Framingham’s history we felt it was important to bring Edgell Memorial Library back to life and make it a vital part of Framingham’s Centre Common neighborhood.”