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On the Watertown Seal is a picture of an English Colonist and an Indian exchanging, as peace tokens, bread for fish. Captain Roger Clap landed at Nantasket Point in 1630 and rode up Charles River to Gerry's Landing with the first party of Watertown Colonists.
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Required Documents for Demolition Review
Procedure
The Watertown Historical Commission will review your application for demolition at a scheduled public hearing before a demolition permit may be issued. Watertown’s Demolition Delay Ordinance is administered by the Watertown Historical Commission to protect from destruction significant buildings that it are in the public interest to preserve.

When the Historical Commission determines that a building is significant and should be preserved, it can delay demolition for up to 12 months. This period allows the Commission, the owner, and the community to explore avenues to preserve the building or mitigate its loss.

In order for the demolition review to proceed, 10 copies of the following materials must be submitted to the Watertown Historical Commission office at:
Town of Watertown Administration Building
149 Main St.
Watertown, MA 02472

Required Documents and Specifications
Copies must be no larger than 11” x 17” and must be submitted by the Additional Information Deadline of the corresponding scheduled public hearing. The following documents are required:
  • Dimensioned site plan of existing building and of the proposed replacement project, signed by the current record owner of the property
    • If the current record owner is not the applicant, then the applicant must also sign
    • The site plan should indicate the relationship to the surrounding structures and properties
  • Schematic elevation drawings of the proposed replacement project, signed by the current record owner of the property
    • If the current record owner is not the applicant, then the applicant must also sign
    • Dimensions and construction materials should be indicated
    • Elevations that demonstrate the relationship to neighboring structures are preferred
  • Exterior photographs of the existing building and abutters as seen from a public way