GREENFIELD — When longtime Historical Commission member and former Historical Society of Greenfield President Peter S. Miller died in January, he was remembered for his wealth of knowledge on Greenfield’s history.
“Anyone who knew Peter Miller knew that he was the town historian. He knew everything about everything in town, from the smallest detail,” Historical Commission Chair John Passiglia recalled. “His dedication to preserving history both with the Historical Commission and Historical Society was unparalleled.”
When Miller died, Passiglia said, the commission created the Peter S. Miller Historical Preservation Award, “to give him an enduring legacy, and keep his name out there for all the people who worked with him over the years.” The award will be given on an irregular basis in recognition of significant historic restoration on homes or businesses.
The inaugural award recognizes the Olive Street Parking Garage for its preservation of the circa 1929 transportation-themed bas reliefs that were rescued before the Sweeney Ford Dealership at 1 Main St. was demolished, as well as for the use of historical themes throughout the building.
“The bas reliefs were a Greenfield icon,” Passiglia said. “You would see them right when you came up Main Street.
“When they originally designed those reliefs for the Ford dealership, they were thinking about the change of technology over time,” he continued, noting that the theme of the bas reliefs played a part in the garage’s award.
According to a Historical Commission press release, architect Bernard Dirks first proposed the panels in 1930 when he designed a showroom for Ford franchise owner John Jeffers. Using molds carved by Noah Rogali, Greenfield’s Art Stone Foundry used poured cement to cast the friezes, which portray Conestoga wagons, steam-powered locomotives, and Ford automobiles and aircraft to show the history of transportation in this region.
The locomotive shown is exiting the Hoosac Tunnel, which allowed rail traffic to transport goods from east to west. One of the airplanes is a Ford Trimotor, Henry Ford’s successful entry into the aircraft business. The Ford dealership’s latest owner, Bob Cartelli, donated the panels to the city, the release states.
Irving Slavid restored the concrete panels, which were then put in place by Daniel O’Connor & Sons, the parking garage’s general contractor. Former Mayor William Martin, the Greenfield Parking Authority and Jones Whitsett Architects, in association with Desman Associates, along with other city officials were key in crafting the parking garage’s design.
Also included in the inaugural Peter S. Miller Historical Preservation Award is the pocket park at the Bank Row entrance, which celebrates Dexter Marsh’s discovery of what were eventually identified as fossilized dinosaur footprints, during his construction of a sidewalk at Franklin County’s first courthouse.
The park was designed by resident Sandy Thomas, working with the city’s Department of Public Works, the release states. Thor Holbek, of The Holbek Group of Orange, constructed the dinosaur footprint rock, a bike stand and a steel beehive with bee.
According to Passiglia, this is only the beginning for the Peter S. Miller Historical Preservation Award.
“We want to continually give out this award,” he said.
Projects will be evaluated on the merits of their restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive use, neighborhood conservation, landscape preservation, archeology and education/outreach, the release explains. Criteria include, but are not limited to: the historical and architectural significance of the property; the exceptional quality of the project; the extent to which the project contributed to the property’s preservation; and the impact of the project on preserving the city’s historic resources.
“It took a little while to set it up and establish it,” Passiglia said of the award, “but now that it’s out there, we want people to know that when they engage in historic preservation, to go the extra mile to benefit the fabric of the community, we want to acknowledge them.”