Historical Commission learns $200,000 remains for railroad interpretive site

WAYLAND -- June 3, 2024, Wayland Historical Commission learns roughly $200,000 in 2006 Town Center gift money remains available for a railroad interpretive site. Commissioner Rick Conard reported the finding after a Zoom meeting with Select Board liaison Tom Fay, new Cultural Council Chair Pallavi Nagsha and Bonnie Gossels, tracing the funds to Section J3 of the original $250,000 gift from 20 Wayland LLC, intended for "the planning, design and construction of a historic railroad interpretive site." A potential engine-house excavation by the Public Archaeology Laboratory was estimated at $80,000 three years ago by archaeologist Suzanne Cherow. Conard separately flagged a $25,000 rail trail earmark in state House Bill 4601. The commission also raised concerns about MassDOT's plan to pave the stone-dust trail 10 feet wide between routes 20 and 27, citing buried rails and engine-house remains. North Cemetery contractor Josh has nearly finished priority stones in the old section since starting in early May. Designer Carol Hobbs quoted $1,200 for the Castlegate pillars sign.