The Southborough Historical Commission deferred action on a historic-house sign application for 24 East Main at its April 3 meeting after finding inconsistent name attributions in MACRIS records.

Commission Chair Kevin Miller said the individual MACRIS inventory lists 24 East Main as the C.B. Wilson House (circa 1890), while the area report identifies the adjacent 26 East Main as the Charles B. Wilson House (circa 1880). The discrepancy left commissioners uncertain which property should carry a Wilson-name plaque.

Miller described the research challenges: handwritten notes in MACRIS reports, incomplete citations, and the time-consuming searches required at the Worcester County Registry of Deeds. Kelly O'Brien volunteered to do additional archival work, including consulting an 1898 atlas and the registry, and asked for time to dig further.

"I actually just looked on a map from 1898, and it did say it was C Wilson," O'Brien said, reporting an initial finding that supports the Wilson attribution.

Commission members discussed alternatives, including naming the house after a long-time resident rather than the original builder if documentary evidence remains inconclusive. The commission did not adopt a final name or approve a sign; members agreed to revisit the application at a future meeting if O'Brien is able to develop stronger documentary support.

Next step: Kelly O'Brien will continue deed and map research; the commission expects to consider the item again at a future meeting once additional evidence is compiled.