Owners refuse plaque at Minerva Parker Nichols house; committee will seek alternative locations

Committee members reported that efforts to secure owner permission for a commemorative plaque at the Minerva Parker Nichols house on Montgomery Avenue had failed after repeated outreach. The member who led the plaque effort said the property owner conveyed a clear refusal, terminating plans for the plaque at that site.

The committee discussed options: reframing plaque text so it is not tied to a single property, placing it in a public or more visible downtown location, or selecting an alternate private house whose owners are enthusiastic. "We're not interested," the plaque organizer said, reporting the property owner’s response and explaining outreach attempts had included texts and requests for in-person discussion.

Members identified potential alternatives, including two adjacent houses at 102 and 104 Grayling that were photographed during a tour and 210 North Essex. They agreed to follow up with Molly (committee member) to approach owners and to consider placing a marker in a public location if that proved more feasible.

No formal motion was adopted at the meeting to relocate the marker; members asked staff to report back on owner outreach and possible wording that would not be parcel-specific.