Historic commission agrees to proceed with bronze plaque for Brigham Street Burial Ground

At its Jan. 21 meeting the Northborough Historic District Commission agreed the existing brass plaque should be replaced by a larger bronze plaque so it can be mounted higher on the post at the Brigham Street Burial Ground.

Bob Light, chair of the commission, said Scott proposed a bronze plaque that would be larger and longer-lasting and that Scott would mount it. Commissioners discussed whether the plaque should face the graves (west) or face the street/parking area and whether lettering should appear on one or both sides. They asked Scott to provide a draft design and to advise on whether the mounting tab should be on the back so bolts and tabs are not visible from the front.

The commission also reviewed nearby signage and agreed to try to match the boulder/interpreting-sign font for consistency. Leslie Harrison suggested matching the local boulder sign typeface; commissioners discussed Trajan and Times New Roman as possible matches and asked the chair to request an all-caps serif treatment if feasible.

No formal roll-call vote was recorded for the plaque procurement; the chair said the "sense of the group" was to have Scott proceed subject to his design draft and a clarified cost estimate. The chair said he will ask Scott for a cost estimate and expected the bronze plaque would remain within the existing project budget, with roughly $1,000 likely left over for follow-on landscape work.

The commission also noted that cemetery replacement signs have been installed elsewhere and discussed an annual "flip the sign" maintenance schedule (proposed by Andy Clark) to reduce sun fading.