A local garden club has breathed new life into a historic corner of Marblehead, transforming the tiny triangle around an 1862 firehouse into a vibrant welcome for visitors to the town’s historic district.
The Cottage Gardeners of Marblehead and Swampscott recently completed a landscaping project at the Okos building, 222 Washington St., home to the vintage, hand-pumped fire engine Okommakamesit.
Located at the corner of Washington and Middle streets, the Okos building features a sign welcoming people to Marblehead’s historic area. But until recently, the grounds needed a facelift.
“Every time I drove by, I’d see that sign and that mess,” said Karen McMahon, a Cottage Gardeners member who spearheaded the project. “I thought maybe our garden club could do something.”
McMahon enlisted fellow member Holly Willsey-Walker, a landscape designer, to develop plans and estimate costs. The garden club allocated $1,500 toward the project.
When McMahon approached town officials, she learned the timing was perfect.
“We had learned the building was being restored,” McMahon recalled. The landscaping project would complement the town’s renovation efforts.
Working closely with town officials, including Building Inspector Ben Lebowitz, the group spent a good amount of time planning the garden redesign. They sought approvals from Marblehead’s Old and Historic Commission.
“We wanted to highlight the sign, highlight this building,” Willsey-Walker said.
The eco-friendly design incorporates shrubs to minimize maintenance needs. Plants were selected for their red, white and blue color scheme, Willsey-Walker noted, including azaleas and hydrangeas.
Low-maintenance groundcover will eventually fill in to help control weeds. An irrigation system waters each plant individually, conserving resources.
Solar-powered lighting illuminates the space at night, with adjustable fixtures that can be altered as plants grow or for special displays.
The project hit some obstacles along the way. Willsey-Walker recalled needing help from a neighbor with a sledgehammer to break up old concrete impeding new plantings.
But community involvement became a hallmark of the effort. Extra funds were donated for lighting by real estate agent Lindsay Bartlett when they weren’t in the original budget. Marblehead Garden Center provided plants at a discount.
“I think this project highlights everything that is great and important about living in Marblehead, what makes us unique,” Willsey-Walker said. “People roll up their sleeves and pitch in.”
For the volunteers who care for the Okos hand pumper, the landscaping brings welcome attention to their historic building and mission. Lead volunteer Earl Doliber said the structure dates to at least the 1840s.
Today, the Okos group participates in “musters” — competitive events Doliber calls “the oldest sport in America.” Teams race to pump water the farthest distance using the old hand-operated engines.
“Twenty years ago, we’d at least get a quorum for meetings,” Doliber said. “Now we’re down to really about six or seven active members.”
The landscaping project has already drawn new interest from passersby, McMahon said. She hopes it will inspire others to volunteer for community beautification efforts.
“We are a town of volunteers,” McMahon said. “Sometimes people want to help but just don’t know how to start. This project might encourage others.”
