By Kelsey Griggs
At the May 15 Bolton Select Board meeting, Historical Commission Chair Bob Busch provided a detailed overview of the decades-long effort to establish the East End Historic District as a National Register Historic District.
He explained that the project originated in the 1980s, when the town began compiling historic inventory forms for local properties. This work laid the groundwork for three historic districts in Bolton: Main Street (west of I-495), the Pan District (east of I-495), and the East End, which was officially added to the National Register in April 2025.
Busch credited consultant Anne Forbes, who has worked with the Commission since the late 1990s, for her expertise and long-term support in refining the inventory and preparing the nomination. Busch said the nomination process formally began in 2020 and involved crafting a cohesive narrative from the individual property histories, while navigating changes to Massachusetts Historical Commission requirements. A public informational meeting was held in January 2024, followed by state approval in December 2024 and final Department of the Interior approval in April 2025.
Busch clarified that the National Register designation is honorary and does not impose restrictions on property owners. He emphasized that it does not affect homeowners’ ability to make changes to their properties, unlike local historic districts, which require special approvals (and which Bolton does not have or plan to adopt). Busch said the primary benefit of the designation is that it triggers an additional layer of state review in the event of state-funded projects like road widening.
Busch ended by requesting SB approval to install three road signs marking the district, with final placement to be coordinated with DPW Director Randy Heglin. The SB conditionally approved, barring any significant changes from the current signage.
