Every May, to recognize National Historic Preservation Month, the Webster Museum honors a historic property with a handsome plaque. This year, that honoree was not an individual property, but an entire neighborhood.
At the Webster Town Board meeting on Thursday May 17, Sharon Pratt from the museum’s Historic Properties Committee presented a plaque to the Forest Lawn neighborhood, represented by current Forest Lawn resident Mark Gunther.
Forest Lawn is a lakeside community neighborhood with its own mayor and a long history. Samuel Pierce, an early settler, bought and farmed 73 acres along the lake beginning in 1850. His son Horace and an attorney friend, George D. Forsyth, saw potential commercial opportunities in developing the land due to its proximity to the lake and proposed a railway line. In 1888, the Forest Lawn community began with the construction of a hotel. Shortly after, the land was divided into lots which were sold for summer cottages. In the years since, the cottages were all replaced with permanent homes. It is that date — 1888 — which is inscribed on the plaque.
The plaque program grew out of a survey of historic properties which a small group of museum volunteers tackled about more than 20 years ago. They especially were looking for homes that were built before 1902 which had enough of their historical integrity that their original owners would still recognize them.
The list they came up with was a long one. There were so many properties that it took a few years to compile their information, going to each house in turn, filling out a form and taking photos. In 2007 they decided to take all that information and propose a commemorative plaque program to the town. It would be a great way to recognize the town’s visual history, they argued, and a way for the town to say thank you to the homeowners who are putting in the time and effort to maintain the homes so they retain their original charm.
The town agreed. In 2008 the Historic Properties Committee presented its first 10 plaques, and have continued the program with the Town’s blessing every year since, handing out several plaques every May to commemorate Historic Preservation Month.
Most of the plaques that have been presented have gone to homes and business properties, but the committee has recently decided to start recognizing entire neighborhoods as well. Forest Lawn is the first historic neighborhood to receive that recognition.
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(posted 5/20/2024)
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