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Painting of Hannah, Washington’s first warship, donated to Marblehead
The Marblehead Historical Commission has received a painting of the Hannah Schooner, believed by many to be the first ship commissioned into George Washington’s navy. The artwork, donated by Marblehead native Christopher Hyland, honors the town’s maritime legacy and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Painted recently in acrylic on board by artist Scott McBee, the piece weighs over 60 pounds and will be displayed in Abbot Hall this September to commemorate the schooner’s September 1775 launch. Hyland, who commissioned the work, originally offered it to several institutions before gifting it to the Historical Commission.
The Hannah was a converted fishing schooner owned by Marbleheader John Glover. It was outfitted in Beverly but crewed entirely by Marblehead sailors and captained by Nicholson Broughton.
Though short-lived and militarily modest, the Hannah’s service marked the beginning of naval resistance against British rule, preceding the establishment of the Continental Navy.
Hyland’s donation includes a letter dedicating the work to naval service members, privateers, veterans and Salem Bay yachtsmen.
Fogle’s backyard theatre fest returns
Following last summer’s Chekhov In The Garden, Fogle’s Backyard Theatre Fest, in association with Marblehead’s Mugford Street Players, will present A.R.Gurney’s one act comedy “The Love Course” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. from July 4-27.
Nestled in the verdant backyard of the Fogle home at 25 Vine St., organizers say the intimate outdoor setting is an ideal venue for this play about two college professors who team-teach a course on the literature of love and get a little carried away in the process.
Featured in the leading roles are Marblehead actors Janet Dauray as Professor Carroway and John Melczer as Professor Burgess. They are supported by Alexis Armstrong of Gloucester and Marblehead’s Kirk Clingen as college students Sally and Mike. John Fogle directs.
In August, Fogle’s Backyard Theatre Fest will present two short comedies about interpersonal communications, Robert Anderson’s comedy “I’m Herbert,” featuring well known local actors James Butterfield and Betty Kent Lautner, followed by David Ives’ “The Universal Language,” staged and performed by Kristine Burke and Bob Karish. August performances will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. from Aug. 15-24.
Each evening is offered free of charge but seating is limited. To reserve seats, send a text message to 781-962-0409, with the date and number of seats you require. Your reservation will be confirmed by a return text. All shows are weather permitting.
Residents join dig effort, help clean centuries-old finds
Marblehead residents are playing an active role in the ongoing archaeological excavation at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, where a steady stream of volunteers has joined student archaeologists to clean and sort artifacts uncovered from the historic lawn.
On June 16, the site bustled with community members who stopped by to lend a hand in processing fragments of ceramic, bone and other material culture recovered from the former work yard behind the 1768 mansion. Volunteers worked alongside University of Massachusetts Boston students, brushing dirt from finds and learning about the town’s 18th-century past.
The public is welcome to visit the dig site through June 27 between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on weekdays. The project, now in its third summer, is a collaboration between the Marblehead Museum and UMass Boston’s Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research.
Marblehead Light Department earns national reliability award
Marblehead Municipal Light Department received the Certificate of Excellence in Reliability from the American Public Power Association, recognizing top-tier operational practices among municipal light plants nationwide.
The honor is awarded to utilities that subscribe to APPA’s eReliability Tracker tool and rank in the first quartile nationally for the System Average Interruption Duration Index based on five years of Energy Information Administration data.
General Manager Joseph Kowalik said the tracker has been an invaluable asset for comparing the department’s performance.
“Our department has for a long time enjoyed a reputation in our town of providing reliable service to our customers,” Kowalik said. “Participating in the APPA eReliability program gives us an objective tool so we can see how our reliability compares to other New England MLPs and MLPs nationwide.”
NSCC names local students to dean’s list
North Shore Community College President William Heineman has announced that 28 Marblehead students earned honors for the spring semester.
Dean’s list recognition is awarded to students who complete six or more semester hours with a grade point average of 3.30 or higher.
The following Marblehead students were honored: Lee Becker, Cynthia Bershad, Nathaniel Boyce, Yevhen Brykin, Mariela Castro, Lilian Childs, Eliza Christensen, Malaika Dunlop, Alyssa Elser, David Etienne, Colleen Gawrys, Jennifer Grimes, Emma Hawthorne, Rhonda Johnstone, Paul Jones, Olga Makarova, Lamont McGhee, Francis Murphy, Hannah Oreilly, Edgar Ortega, Alayra Perez Garcia, Alexis Pierre, Maxwell Rudesindo Rosario, Joseph Steele Jr., Atenas Suarez Ortiz, Erin Tarmey, Aden Thang and Samuel Trasher.
Free elder law presentation planned at COA
The Council on Aging will host a free asset protection presentation by Certified Elder Law Attorneys Patrick Curley and Lucy Budman of Curley Law Firm LLP at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 25.
Titled “Estate Plan Survival Kit — What you need to protect your family, your assets, and your independence as you age,” the talk is open to the public and will be held at the Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey St.
“Our goal is for attendees to learn concrete steps they can use to protect themselves and their home and savings against these risks,” said Curley. “I am finding that older adults are very concerned about how the changes coming out of Washington, D.C. may impact them and their nest egg.”
To reserve a seat, call the Council on Aging at 781-631-6225. For more details, visit curleylawfirm.com or contact Deborah Tura at 781-245-2222 x18 or debbie@curleylawfirm.com.
Rail Trail section closed through August
A portion of Marblehead’s Rail Trail between Clifton Avenue and Rockaway Avenue closed June 9 for resurfacing and improvements and will remain off-limits to the public until August.
The detour affects all users and is necessary to facilitate construction. The area is an active construction zone under contractor control, and trespassing is prohibited.
Updates are available at marblehead.org. For questions, call the Department of Community Development and Planning at 781-631-1529.
Dollars for Scholars sets deadline for college students
Marblehead Dollars for Scholars advanced standing application deadline for rising college sophomores, juniors and seniors is Tuesday, July 1. Recipients are selected primarily on financial need, based on the student aid index on their FAFSA, along with consideration of GPA.
Students who received scholarships during the 2024-25 school year may reapply for a scholarship by updating their online profile on ChapterNet: marblehead.dollarsforscholars.org.
New applicants who graduated from Marblehead High School or who live in town and are pursuing undergraduate degrees are also welcome to apply if they can demonstrate financial need. Detailed instructions about how to build your student profile are found on the Students and Parents section of the website.
For more information contact a member of the advanced standing scholarship committee: Day Newburg 781-631-0010 daynewburg@gmail.com, Chris Saulnier 617-449-8436 chris.saulnier54@gmail.com or Rae Weed 781-299-8269 Alweed@comcast.net.
Marblehead Little Theatre announces auditions for fall production
Marblehead Little Theatre will hold auditions for “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller on Sunday, Aug. 3, 3-5 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 4, 7-9 p.m. Callbacks are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 6, 7-9 p.m.
The play centers on the Salem witch trials of 1692 and serves as an allegory for “witch hunts” occurring at any time or place. Auditioners should prepare a two- to three-minute monologue from an American play.
Performances run three weekends from Oct. 3-19. To register for an audition slot, visit the theatre’s website. Marblehead Little Theatre is located at 12 School St., Marblehead, Massachusetts. For more information, contact info@mltlive.org.
