The Peabody Historical Commission has announced that applications are out for a plaque program, through which businesses and commercial buildings that meet historical-building criteria can order a plaque explaining what the building was originally created for and its history. 

One criterion is that the area should be in the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS), a Massachusetts Historical Commission database that allows anyone to search for information on historic properties and areas in the state. 

According to the application, each plaque is a handmade design and comes with a weatherproof coating. The historical plaque will have a white background with all-black lettering and “Peabody Historical Commission” will be written on the bottom of it. The original name of the building and the date of the building’s construction will also be on the plaque. 

Prices for plaques range from $175 to $220, with an additional $90 for their optional installation. The commission said that ideas to put a QR code right under the plaque are also being considered, so people can scan the codes and read about the site’s history. 

Members of the commission said that they are currently focusing on Peabody’s Main Street downtown area for the program. A similar program for historic houses came just before the program for commercial sites.

At a meeting of the commission, members also unveiled this year’s plan for cemeteries. The commission’s master plan identified 41 cemeteries to watch over that are in rough shape due to lack of maintenance, vandalism, and natural causes. However, due to a lack of funds, the commission plans on picking a few to fix each year, by partnering with gravestone-restoration companies. 

One cemetery the commission wants to focus on for this year is Jacobs Cemetery, especially because a commemoration for the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord will be held there. Other cemeteries identified in the meeting that need upkeep are Curtis-Very and Russel-Upton. Old South Cemetery was also mentioned.