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This survey identifies some of the areas, building, monuments, sites, cemeteries, and structures significant in the history and development of Rockland.

Kerry A. McNally of Cambridge was hired by the commission to research the original ownership, age, and the completion of existing surveys for 82 buildings. Buildings on Union, Market, Albion and East Water Streets were chosen as the first structures to be surveyed because of their significance historically and architecturally and because their existence was threatened by encroaching commercial development.

In 1980 the commission received a $2,500.00 town appropriation which was matched by a 2,500.00 Massachusetts Historical Commission grant-in-aid under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended through the Department of the Interior Heritage, Conservation and Recreation Service. With these funds the commission continued the work by engaging the services of historic preservation planners Michael J. Herschensohn and Roger G. Reed of Ithaca, New York. Upon conduction a through field inspection, they in turn reported their findings to the commission and it was decided that the streets to be surveyed would be the central area of the town including all of union, Hingham, Liberty, Webster, and Market Street and Center Avenue. As a result, 267 building which had historic and architectural significance were surveyed.

The Rockland Historical Commission members not only supervised the research but also donated many of the services for the survey. The commission members since the beginning of the survey included: Ellen P. Croghan, Lorianne DelPrete, Karen C. Kimball, Katherine T. Gilbride, John S. Binney, Clifford P. Hammond, Marsha L. Fader, Margaret T. Donahue, Carole L. Mooney, Jul K. Homer, Margaret K. Schnable, Donald J. Cann, Fred N. Kugel, James G. Boyle, John E. Dobie, Dorothy McCauley, and H. B. Monahan.

As funds become available, the commission plans to continue the survey. This survey will be used to increase public awareness of the significant historical recourses within the town in an effort to preserve them for Rockland.

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