Many historic buildings have Ipswich Historical Commission plaques on their front façade. The sign and design are unique to our town.
Displaying the historic plaque: The town of Ipswich allows a permanent, non-illuminated sign that identifies a structure or site designated by the Ipswich Historical Commission as being historically significant. Signs shall be attached to or parallel to the structure and shall not exceed three (3) square feet.
Step 1: Find your house name and date of construction
Inventories of historic buildings are maintained by the Ipswich Historical Commission. All buildings 75 years or older are considered to be historic. High-priority buildings include those built in the First Period (1625 to 1725), Second Period (1725 to 1775), and Third Period (1775 to 1825).
- You will find the information you need about your house in the Historical Commission’s Partial List of Historic Houses (pdf) or the List of Historic Houses on this site.
- If you have questions, contact local historian Gordon Harris at historicipswich@gmail.com, who can help confirm the name of the original owner (or the traditional name of the house) and the date of construction.
- Homeowners are responsible for making the order after confirming the date of construction and the name of the builder, original owner, or other historic individual for which the house is named.
- Signs must conform to the sizes, shapes, and lettering as shown below.
- Plaques for First-Period and Georgian Colonial houses built before 1820 usually have a saltbox house at the top. Plaques for houses built after 1820 (Greek Revival, Victorian, etc.) traditionally have flat tops with no saltbox house image, but you may choose either style.
Step 2: Ordering Historic House Plaques. Ipswich sign makers for historic house plaques:
Cape Ann Sign
Email: info@capeannsign.com. Phone (978) 356-0960..
43 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.
Description: All signs have vinyl lettering on 1/2″ hard PVC with a saltbox house on the top.
Size: 22″ x 12″ (plus the house)
Charge: $200.00.
Kristopher Dalen
Email: krisdalen@gmail.com
Description: The Old Burying Ground plaque on the right is a sample of his work. View more on his Instagram page. Plaques for Ipswich would be the shape approved by the Historical Commission.
Size: 22″ x 12″ (plus the house)
Charge: Hand-painted on PVC $175.00. Hand-painted on a cedar board $200.00. Both prices include shipping and mounting hardware. Phone 781-910-0140 or email krisdalen@gmail.com.
Lisa Weagle (Rustic Sentiments)
Email: rusticsentiments@gmail.com. Ipswich
Description: Hand-painted on plywood.
Sizes available: large (24″ x 16″) or small (22″ x 12″)
Charge: $150.00, local pickup.
Historic Ipswich 