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ONLY IN YOUR Ledger - Weymouth Local historians are well on their way to getting some national recognition for dozens of historic sites, from the graves of Revolutionary War veterans to some of the town's oldest homes and meeting houses. The Massachusetts Historical Commission earlier this month signed off on the creation of two National Register of Historic Places districts in Weymouth, one sandwiched between Front and Washington streets near the Braintree border and another in Weymouth Heights between the Fore and Back rivers. The state commission's recommendation goes to the National Park Service for final approval to add the districts to the national register. Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the Massachusetts secretary of state's office, which oversees the Massachusetts Historical Commission, said state approval typically leads to approval at the national level. "Pretty much, if the the commission recommends it, it goes on," he said. "It's just a period of time before it actually shows up on the register." Ted Clarke, chairman of the Weymouth Historical Commission, said the group learned that its proposal for the new districts cleared the first hurdle after a Sept. 8 review by the state commission. Establishing the historic districts is primarily intended to recognize the town's historic landmarks and areas, Clarke said. "That's more of a prestige thing than anything else," he said, "and it's a matter of keeping an eye on the fact that this is a historic town. We want people to know that." There are some tax incentives for owners of income-producing properties - inns, for example - in districts on the national register. Being in one of the districts also provides some protection if a proposed state or federal project, such as a new road, would have an effect. Unlike local historic districts, a national district does not restrict what a property owner can do in the way of property alterations. The proposed Front Street district includes the residential neighborhood that supported the commercial center in Weymouth Landing and contained small-scale shoemaking shops and factories that have been converted into homes. It also contains two 19th- century cemeteries. The so-called Meeting House District would include Watch House Hill, which is believed to be the site of the town's first two meeting houses, as well as an early Civil War memorial and the Abigail Adams birthplace. Both districts would include a range of architectural styles, such as Greek revival and Italianate, and Cape-style homes and buildings. Weymouth already has three national register districts - one along Sea Street in North Weymouth, one around town hall and one around Central Square.
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