Historical Commission Meeting
The commission found 13 Merrimac St, 95 Elm St, and a small outbuilding at 15 Lake St not historically significant, and approved submitting a FY2026 Historical Commission budget proposal requesting $23,135 (including $20,000 for a resource inventory/survey).
The Amesbury Historical Commission met on Feb. 13, 2025. The commission considered three demolition/alteration applications and conducted determinations of historical significance for each: 13 Merrimac Street was found not historically significant after review of map records and on-site observations that identified substantial later alterations and loss of structural integrity; 95 Elm Street (listed in the Inventory as the Rufus Davis House) was judged not historically significant following discussion that its present form reflects significant Victorian-era alteration and is not a representative example of Greek Revival architecture; and a small outbuilding at 15 Lake Street was found not historically significant because of its poor condition, small size, and lack of architectural value.
The commission also reviewed and voted to submit a proposed FY2026 Historical Commission budget totaling $23,135, including $20,000 proposed for updating the city's resource inventory/survey, $2,500 for consulting, $500 for administrative expenses, and $135 for memberships. Meghan Fahey, the new city liaison, described the need to update the historic-resource survey and outlined the submission process to City Administration. All substantive motions voted during the meeting passed unanimously (6 to 0).