Shrewsbury historians try to solve the case of the missing Town Common marker

203

By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

(l to r) David Chiampa, owner of Chiampa Funeral Home; John Campbell, chair of the Shrewsbury Historic District Commission; and Kevin Samara, member of the Shrewsbury Historical Commission Photo/Melanie Petrucci
(l to r) David Chiampa, owner of Chiampa Funeral Home; John Campbell, chair of the Shrewsbury Historic District Commission; and Kevin Samara, member of the Shrewsbury Historical Commission
Photo/Melanie Petrucci

Shrewsbury – There is a mystery plaguing local historians in Shrewsbury – one of the historic Town Common markers is missing and it hasn’t been seen since the 1980s. The marker is said to have been on the southwest corner of where the Town Common was originally located and where The Sumner House property sits today.

“The current owner of the Sumner House, Dave Chiampa, has been very supportive and accommodating in the search for the Town Common Marker. He has even offered to provide a replica from his granite supplier if we can’t find the original,” stated John Campbell, chair of the Shrewsbury Historic District Commission and leader of this effort.

Others involved include Shrewsbury Parks, Recreation & Cemeteries Director Angela Snell and Shrewsbury Historic Commissioner Kevin Samara. Local historians Michael Perna and Erik Larson also are aware of this marker.

“The owner of the Sumner House at the time [in the 1980s] was Kevin Samara… [He] remembers it being knocked down by a plow and the town decided to bury it right on the corner,” explained Campbell.

The marker’s existence was brought to the attention of Campbell about six months ago. There have been multiple attempts to locate it as it is an important piece of Shrewsbury history. Once recovered, Campbell would like to see it reinstalled properly – perhaps with a small sign and fence for protection.

It is one of four that were placed on the four corners of the original Town Common. The other three have been lost with no hopes of discovery.

“If we can get some pictures from a parade or somewhere from the early to mid-1980s, we may just see it,” Samara shared. “I think we will find it.”

“We aren’t going to give up on this,” Campbell said. “We are going to find it.”

 

No posts to display