Waterford — A small group of residents gathered in the town's public library on Tuesday night for an informational meeting on Oil Mill Road and its potential to be in a district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bob Nye, the municipal historian, led the public forum with Jenny Fields Scofield, the national register and architectural survey coordinator at the State Historic Preservation Office.

"This is a project that for a while was on the back burner. I'm really excited moving forward," Nye said. "Jenny wouldn't be here if it didn't have a good chance."

Nye nominated the potential historic district on behalf of the town Historic Properties Commission, culminating years of research. Scofield said if successful, the Oil Mill Historic District would be Waterford's ninth National Register listing alongside Seaside State Park, Jordan Village, the Eolia estate at Harkness Memorial State Park, Graniteville, Hartford Colony, Oswegatchie, Quaker Hill and Walnut Grove. 

The Oil Mill district is situated on the western border of town at the head of the Niantic River and is about 55 acres in size, stretching from where Oil Mill Road meets Boston Post Road to a little past its intersection with Gurley Road. A separate smaller portion sits above Interstate 95 and includes the Oil Mill Brook.

"The national register is the official list of the nation's historic places significant in American culture and worthy of preservation," Scofield said, adding it is one of four types of honorary designations in the state.

She said criteria for national register consideration includes if the district has historical integrity and properties associated with the lives of persons significant in the past.

As stated in its application for nomination, the proposed Oil Mill Historic District contains archaeological remains of a 19th century mill that processed sumac and flaxseed oil, along with houses and an archaeological site associated with a community that developed during the most productive years of the mill.

About 20 buildings, most privately owned, are "contributing" and represent the mill community, while 14 buildings in the district are noncontributing.

Nye on Tuesday made the example of the Philip Cavarly House at 54 Gurley Road, the oldest standing home in the district, built in 1794. He said Cavarly acquired much of the surrounding land around the mill and his son Lyman Calvary constructed a store in 1825 at 2 Oil Mill Road, now a privately owned residence.

Scofield gave residents an overview of the process for the national register designation and of the possible benefits to property owners of contributing buildings in the district.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board will consider the proposed Oil Mill Historic District for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and, if successful, the nomination is sent to the National Park Service, Scofield explained. She said homeowners in the district are notified about the process and can accept the designation.

If a majority of private owners object the designation, then the proposed district cannot be listed on the register but could be forwarded to the National Park Service to formally determine whether the district is eligible for the designation based on the nomination form.

Often though, if there is strong indication that many owners are not in favor, the applicant will choose not to continue with the process, Scofield said.

Dispelling misconceptions, Scofield told residents the designation does not restrict the use, development or sale of privately owned historic properties.

As for benefits, owners of a contributing property in a national register historic district are eligible for economic incentive programs such as tax credits.

Harold Hansen, a town resident, said he did not live in the nominated district but came to the meeting out of curiosity. He said he's lived in Waterford since 1953, when he was kid, and remembers swimming in the Niantic River, which a portion of Oil Mill Road overlooks.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board will consider the Oil Mill Historic District for nomination in a public meeting on March 25 at 9:30 a.m. at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, in North Plaza, Meeting Room C. A video/teleconference participation option also will be available and for additional information, the public can email Scofield at jenny.scofield@ct.gov.

j.vazquez@theday.com