Town Reconnaissance Survey Reports

Reconnaissance Survey Town Reports, produced for MHC’s Statewide Reconnaissance Survey between 1979 and 1987, introduce the historical development of each of the Commonwealth’s municipalities. Each report contains an historic overview, a description of topography, and political boundaries. Each report evaluates the town’s existing historic properties inventory, highlights significant historic buildings and settlement patterns, and presents threats to these resources. A bibliography lists key secondary resources.

Town reports are designed for use with a series of town maps that demarcate settlement patterns, transportation corridors, and industrial sites for each historic period. The maps are on file and available for consultation at MHC. 

These reports are two decades or more old. The information they contain dates to the time they were written. In some cases, information on certain topics was not completed. No attempt has been made to update this information.

Reports are available for 319 of the 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Click on town name to download a report. (Towns listed in italics do not have town reports.)

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