The mission of the Town of Wellesley Historical Commission is the preservation and protection of the tangible evidence of the architectural, aesthetic, cultural, economic, political and social history of Wellesley.

In fulfilling this mission, the Historical Commission does the following:

• educates the community on the economic, cultural, and aesthetic values of historic preservation, through working collaboratively with Town boards, owners, developers, realtors, and residents, through our signature Historic Plaque Program, and through articles and letters in the local press;

• advocates for local ordinances, bylaws, and public actions that encourage the preservation, restoration, and reuse of historic properties both public and private; and

• addresses major development and growth issues, such as promoting smart zoning, encouraging renovation and adaptive reuse as alternatives to demolitions of historic properties, and providing technical assistance and support to ensure that growth can coincide with the protection of the historical assets of the Town.

The Historical Commission was created pursuant to Article 17 of the Town Bylaws, as authorized by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 8D.  The Historical Commission interacts and coordinates its work with other Town boards and committees such as the Community Preservation Committee, the Planning Board, the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation, and the Design Review Board, as well as with the Wellesley Historical Society and state agencies such as the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

Year End Reports

The Historical Commission prepares and files a report for inclusion with the Town’s annual Town Report, copies of which are available for the following fiscal years: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008

(A clip from the 1897 Atlas of the Town of Wellesley.)