After a years-long hiatus, Rye’s City Council met Wednesday in the Square House, resuming the tradition of its annual historical meeting.
The relocation was for practical reasons, as work continues on City Hall’s HVAC system, but also intentional, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the introduction of Rye’s new landmarks advisory committee, and the early stages of the city’s first comprehensive plan update in 40-plus years.
The Square House hosted council meetings regularly from 1904-1964, but Mayor Josh Nathan noted the building’s significance dates back as far as the 1770s, including visits by Sam Adams, John Adams, and an overnight stay by George Washington.
On Wednesday, several key players in Rye’s recent history were on hand, including former mayors and councilmembers, as the city embarks on a process of honoring both its past and future.
“Preservation isn’t about stopping evolution. It’s about carrying familiar places forward in very thoughtful ways,” said councilmember Marion Anderson, who became the first Black person elected to the Rye City Council last year. “So, as we move into a period of comprehensive planning, we’re at an important crossroads.
“Planning asks us to look ahead, but it should never require us to forget where we came from. In fact, our historic resources can and should help guide the choices we make about growth, housing, sustainability, and economic vitality. Preservation and planning aren’t competing goals. They’re most powerful when they inform one another.”
Nathan acknowledged each former city politician in the room, along with several notable volunteers, then each current councilmember spoke about what the city and its history mean to them.
“Here in this room, we have people who have dedicated countless volunteer hours to making sure this is the most amazing community, helping to solve challenges, and seize great opportunities,” Nathan said. “I hope that this council continues that tradition in a way that makes you all proud.”
Alison Relyea, chair of the landmarks advisory committee, spoke about how the group aims to celebrate historical people and places in Rye, primarily by bringing to the forefront work that’s been done by the Rye Historical Society, Jay Heritage Center, and others.
“We think of Rye as a living landmark, and that’s because of the people here, the buildings, the historic districts,” she said, before unveiling a new logo. “We want to find creative ways, starting now, but with no end date in sight, to share those stories among the community, and, with that balance of preservation and progress, find ways that we can celebrate the past while also bringing it into the present.”
The city’s current and former leaders then shared a champagne toast to Rye before getting down to business in a traditional City Council meeting.
Alison Relyea, chair of the landmarks advisory committee, unveils a new city logo. Photo/Chris Marshall
