Preserve America
Preserve America - Historic Wethersfield Master Plan
In August of 2005, the Town of Wethersfield applied to the National Park Service for designation as a Preserve America Community. The Preserve America program is a White House initiative designed to "encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America's priceless cultural and natural heritage." More information and the Wethersfield community listing can be found at https://www.achp.gov/preserve-america/community/wethersfield-connecticut.
On November 29, 2005, in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. it was announced that Wethersfield was only the second Connecticut municipality to be designated as a Preserve America community. One of the benefits of the designation is the town's eligibility for matching grant funds to support the initiative. In December 2005, the town applied for a grant to assist in the funding of the Historic Wethersfield Master Plan. The grant application included letters of support from our local partnering organizations including the Historic District Commission, the Tourism Commission, the Economic Development and Improvement Commission and the Wethersfield Historical Society.
In March of 2006, the town received word of a $50,000 grant award to support this planning effort. Then-Mayor Russell A. Morin attended the event to receive the town's designation from First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.
Then-Town Manager Bonnie Therrien created a Steering Committee in May 2006 for the purposes of administering the grant application and the planning process. The Committee met on a regular basis since June of 2006. The membership of the Committee consists of representation from the residential community, the business community, the historic preservation community, the museums, the town commissions, the tourism community and town officials. The initial major focus was the recruitment and competitive selection of a firm to assist in the initiation and completion of the comprehensive master plan for the Historic District of the town. After a 4 month selection process, the town selected John Milner and Associates, Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania to assist the town with this planning effort.
A Community Workshop was held on May 3, 2007 and a Steering Committee meeting on June 20, 2007. The presentations made at those meetings are available for download below.
Listing files in 'Preserve America Steering Committee'
John Milner Associates, Inc. has produced an "Old Wethersfield Master Plan" document, dated July, 2008, available for download below.
On September 2, 2008, town staff members of the Steering Committee presented to Town Council recommendations from the Old Wethersfield Master Plan. Their presentation is available for download below.