SHREWSBURY – As the pandemic canceled nearly everything, lifelong Shrewsbury resident Kelly Barner saw an opportunity.
With the world screeching to a halt, Barner made it her “mission” to find new activities she otherwise wouldn’t have been able to participate in. She became involved with community-supported agriculture programs, participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge, and — a self-described “history buff” — decided to apply for an opening on the Shrewsbury Historic District Commission.
“Everything was being canceled. I went on this mission to find things I could do because of COVID that I would not have been able to do without COVID,” she told the Community Advocate. “I live close enough to Dean Park that I consider Artemas Ward my neighbor, and also my close personal friend … and I was excited about the opportunity to advocate for these amazing properties we have, and also to learn about what goes into preserving resources like that on a town-wide level.”
Now the chair of the commission, Barner — along with a group of other members that includes secretary Melanie Petrucci — are offering fellow history-lovers and residents a Historic District Walking Tour, which is a new way to learn about and enjoy the history in the Shrewsbury Historic District. The district was created in 1972 in an effort to preserve and maintain historic buildings.
The Walking Tour is a selfguided 0.5-mile route that winds through Shrewsbury Center and passes 10 landmarks, including the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury (the starting point), Mountain View Cemetery, the George Allen House, and many other historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The tour is GPS-powered and easy to navigate.
Along the tour, walkers can read detailed historical accounts of the properties.
“It’s interesting to read about the lives of some of the people from the Colonial era that actually inhabited some of these homes. A lot of the people were very connected, and connected to the church… They were real people, and I hope people read about the history of these homes and about the people they’re named after,” said Petrucci. “I hope it spurs some further interest.”
The tour was created for people of all ages, with all different types of knowledge about Shrewsbury.
“It’s so easy to miss the history in your backyard. For 30 minutes on a beautiful day… come take the tour,” said Barner.
Here’s the link! Get exploring!
https://pocketsights.com/tours/tour/Shrewsbury-Shrewsbury-MA-Historic-District-Walking-Tour-8497