Press Release
Residents, property owners, business owners, and community members are invited to attend a public forum to learn about the Town of Fairhaven’s Historic Property Survey Plan Project and provide input on historic preservation efforts through the community.
The forum will be held on October 20, 2026 at 6pm in theTown Hall, 40 Center Street. The goal of the Historic Property Survey Plan Project is to identify those residential and commercial buildings and sites important to the history of Fairhaven and that warrant further research.
While Fairhaven has an outstanding collection of historic buildings, little is known about many of the properties such as construction dates, previous owners, the residents that lived there, their occupations and the interesting stories that connect these buildings to the town’s social, economic, and cultural history.
The last effort to identify, research and document historic properties in Fairhaven was in the 1970s. That effort, led by volunteers, helped identify many buildings in Fairhaven. Now, 50+ years later, the Fairhaven Historical Commission (FHC) recognizes that this information is greatly in need of updating. Additionally, other neighborhoods of Fairhaven deserve further research and documentation for their historic buildings and sites.
By completing a historic property survey plan, the FHC will be better positioned to prioritize efforts to research dozens of properties over the next few years. A similar effort was recently undertaken by the town of Mattapoisett with their historic property survey plan completed in 2023.
During the presentation, the survey plan project consultant and the FHC will discuss Fairhaven’s rich architectural heritage and explain how a survey plan can help guide preservation planning, community development, and future grant opportunities.
Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions, share their knowledge of local historic resources and provide feedback that will help inform project recommendations.
The Historic Property Survey Plan Project, funded through the Community Preservation Committee, is being undertaken through a partnership between the town and the consultant, Skelly Preservation Services. The project will conclude with recommendations for future research priorities and strategies for documenting significant historic resources throughout the community.
“Fairhaven’s historic buildings, landscapes, and neighborhoods are extraordinary,” said Rick Martin, chair of the FHC. “This forum offers residents an opportunity to help shape the future of preservation planning and ensure that the stories and places that define Fairhaven are recognized and documented.”
The forum is free and open to the public.
For more information about the Historic Property Survey Plan Project, please contact: Rick Martin, Chairperson, Fairhaven Historical Commission, 817-689-9944, historicalcommission@fairhaven-ma.gov
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