Millis Historical Commission



Preserving History

                                 Millis Bandstand Concert
                 Grand Reopening April 27th, 2013

The Millis Town Park located on Monroe St. between the Millis Town Hall and the Millis High School is back in use for the first time in more than two decades. After a yearlong restoration project headed by the Millis Historical Commission and the "Save Our Bandstand" Committee local residents enjoyed an afternoon of live music, magic, food and fun !
                                       

 
                                                                           Millis Landmarks


     The Town of Millis is a suburban industrial town in the Charles River Valley, incorporated in 1885. First settled in 1658, the first mill was built in town in 1662 on Bogestow Pond. The town's early economy was based largely on agriculture and grazing. King Philip's war destroyed every building in town except the fortified stone house built for protection. There were taverns, grist and saw mills serving the farming population in town after 1710, and the community remained a prosperous agricultural town throughout the century. In the next century, the town's character changed with the two cotton mills established in 1805. One of these mills is reputed to have installed the first lace loom in America in 1818. Brickyards, organ and organ pipe factories, along with a paper mill and canning factory, in operation in 1837, joined the textile operations as significant town industries. In the twentieth century, however, all that showcased the town's early industrial heritage were Herman Shoes, Safe Pack Mills and the Clicquot Club ginger ale plant.

Update on the Millis Bandstand
Millis residents rally behind bandstand, playground
Boston Globe West: November 22, 2012

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Local Historical Commissions

Duties and Responsibilities of the Millis Historical Commission:

• Conduct research to survey, document, and assess community historic resources
• Maintain inventory of historic resources
• Advise Boards and officials on matters pertaining to historic resources
• Coordinate survey and inventory activities with MA Historical Commission and state archaeologist
• Review proposals for Massachusetts Preservation Planning Fund grants
• Coordinate preservation planning with town planning activities including Open Space, Master Plan and Municipal Planning
• Promote community preservation and act as resource for community heritage and preservation education and develop and facilitate programs for same

            The Massachusetts Historical Commission

The continuing presence of historic properties in Massachusetts immeasurably enhances the quality of our lives; they help to establish our sense of place and to define the very character of our communities. To meet the challenge of preserving this important heritage, the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) was established by the legislature in 1963* to identify, evaluate, and protect important historical and archaeological assets of the Commonwealth.

The Commission consists of 17 members appointed from various disciplines who serve as the State Review Board for state and federal preservation programs. The Commission is Chaired by Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin.

The professional staff of the Commission includes historians, architects, archaeologists, geographers, and preservation planners. The state's preservation programs are administered through MHC's Preservation Planning, Grants, and Technical Services Divisions.

The MHC is the office of the State Historic Preservation Officer, as well as the office of the State Archaeologist.

*(MGL Ch. 9 Sections 27-32 enabling legislation)