On a warm July 29 afternoon, the Select Board Room at Abbot Hall filled with residents who had come to honor one of Marblehead’s most beloved figures.
Town Historian Emerita Elizabeth “Bette” Hunt, 93, received the 2025 Marblehead Forever Award in a surprise ceremony that felt more like a family gathering than a formal municipal event. Hunt, whose decades of service have woven her into the fabric of this town’s identity, became the sixth recipient of an award that recognizes residents who embody Marblehead’s cultural, educational and historical values. It is awarded by the Marblehead Forever Committee, established in 2000 using leftover funds from the town’s 350th anniversary celebrations.
The standing-room-only crowd watched as Hunt accepted a framed citation, her presence commanding the room despite her petite stature. She had served as the town’s second historian from 2002 to 2015, following in the footsteps of the late Virginia Gamage, whose book “The ‘Spirit of ‘76’ Lives Here” remains a touchstone for local history enthusiasts.
“Bette’s deep knowledge, marvelous history, paired with her pride, humor, integrity and many years of dedicated service, truly embody the spirit of Marblehead and exemplify the qualities in historical, cultural and educational aspects,” said Select Board Chair Dan Fox, reading from a Select Board proclamation with evident admiration.
For Hunt, the surprise recognition represented the culmination of a lifetime spent preserving and sharing Marblehead’s stories. Her journey began long before her official appointment as town historian, when she worked as executive secretary of the Marblehead Historical Society for 12 years.
Kyle Wiley, chair of the Marblehead Forever Committee, detailed Hunt’s extensive volunteer work during the ceremony. The list seemed endless: Member of the Old Marblehead Improvement Association, serving on the biennial perambulation guide, sitting in the Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee among others. She contributed to historic preservation efforts, participated in town celebrations and dedications and became a familiar face at countless community gatherings.
But it was Hunt’s popular walking tours that truly captured hearts. For years, she led groups through Old Burial Hill, past the weathered headstones of Revolutionary War heroes and sea captains, her voice bringing centuries-old stories to life. She guided visitors past the Old Town House and through Abbot Hall and the Lee Mansion.
Her successor — Town Historian Don Doliber, who has watched Hunt’s influence span generations, said Hunt has shared Marblehead history with “our students and our community, and as a town — we all have benefited.”
In an aside with the Current, Doliber offered both admiration and gentle humor. He recalled one particularly memorable tour when Hunt was giving a presentation on a bus through town. “At the end, they stopped it, and Bette said, ‘OK, let’s go.’ The door wouldn’t open,” Doliber recounted with a chuckle. “I remember when I heard it, I called her and said, ‘You will do anything to attract an audience.’”
He also added, “Once I hear a story being told about Marblehead, and it’s funny, you know, you can trace it back to Bette.”
Hunt’s influence extended beyond formal tours. She helped persuade Town Meeting to support the $2.4 million Abbot Hall Clock Tower restoration project in 2013, her impassioned speech moving residents to preserve one of their most iconic landmarks. More recently, her artistic talents have gained recognition through pen-and-ink illustrations of Marblehead scenes, originally created for Christmas cards and now being sold to benefit historic preservation efforts.
When Hunt rose to accept the award, her remarks carried the warmth and humor that have endeared her to generations of Marbleheaders.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I hated giving up my walking tours, but I couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.
Among the attendees was Standley Goodwin, 87, a neighbor who often visits Hunt and shares her passion for local history. He also served on the Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee with her.
“She has a gift of gab, and she loves to tell stories and has a good sense of humor and all that sort of thing,” said Goodwin.
Historical Commission Chair Pam Peterson, another longtime resident, praised Hunt’s ability to make Marblehead’s past come alive for ordinary residents. She added Hunt made local history personal and accessible, transforming scholarly knowledge into stories that resonated with neighbors and visitors alike.
“She did popularize town history through her walking tours,” Peterson said.
As the ceremony concluded, Hunt offered final remarks that embodied both her gratitude and her characteristic wit.
“I’m honored, frankly, for all of you being here,” she said.”I really appreciate this, and it’s very kind to be remembered before you’re dead.”
