PREPARING LISTS OF SITES TO BE DOCUMENTED
Using existing and easily accessible Lidar images, and the Lidar compilation of the complete town with grid overlay, identify several possible sites (say 2 or 3), to create a “packet” of work for a survey crew. Visit each site to verify it is something we can, and want to investigate further. Google Earth and other platforms may contain information that could enhance this process.

Use the town Tax Map to identify the owner(s) of record (Map and Lot #). Where necessary, use town tax records and voter registration lists to gather contact information.

By whatever means practical, contact the owner. Introduce them to the existence and purpose of the survey, and attempt to get permission signatures. Keep in mind that our permission release form is frequently being revised. Be willing to meet with them to further explain the process.

Maintain a file of both attempts for permission at each site, and for permissions that lead to completed surveys, assign approved sites to a survey crew, and sent it out!

THE DOCUMENTATION PROCESS
This is the get-on-the-land activity. We offer a varying degree of disturbance and documentation of the site, and the crew needs to follow the land owner agreement. Possible activities include raking, moving fallen branches and trees, pruning or removing small existing trees, examining (and possibly collecting) revealed artifacts, measuring and photographing the site. If you like pushing the limits of digital photography maybe you will be the first to standardize our process for creating attractive images of sites.

Our “Documentation Work Sheets (Part 1 and 2) are mostly self-explanatory. Remember that data be collected to highlight the extent (corners and edges) of the feature, provide enough detail in notes and sketches to depict complex orientations of the stones and the location of features found.

POST-DOCUMENTATION
The data thus far collected is entered into the database. If we can find a volunteering artist, use information from the documentation process for the
production of a beautiful isomorphic representation of the site. If not, be the one who prepares an annotated plan-view sketch.

RESEARCHING EXISTING RECORDS AND ARCHIVES
The goal here is to have research volunteers develop a chain of ownership record, possibly using the County deeds office on line. In addition, and if we determine it to be useful, maintain access to the Town records of the laying out of our roads. And if possible, relate documented to the existing system of addresses used by the Town and Postal Service.

Critically, if you like looking at old photos and reading yellowed documents, find and use historic photos and document for the Historical Society collections and archives. You will probably consider the following resources as well:
The historic “1858 Walling Map”, The historic “1892 Hurd town atlas”, the often cited 1912 James Otis Lyford history of Canterbury with several maps depicting school districts, and the Luther Cody collection of historic photos. We are especially interested in photos of old houses that exist now only as cellar holes.

ORGANIZING, COMPILING, AND WRITING A SHORT NARRATIVE STORY OF THE SITE
Using our outline and guide to the elements that need to be addressed and included, write a narrative or story about the site. This will be the culmination of all the field work and research, presented to the public in a complete and compact form. This is a big assignment. A big ask for anyone, or a team, to take the “facts” of the site as collected by the work of many hands and minds, and fold it into an appealing, enjoyable, and lively story about the lives of the people who lived there as well as the details of the site.