Local History - Marblehead Current

20 Oct

Swampscott board approves 140-unit development at historic Glover Farmhouse site

Monica SagerLocal History, Top Stories

This article is shared with permission from the Swampscott Tides. Marc Liebman, chair of Marblehead's Planning Board told the Current: "This does need to come before the Marblehead planning board. They have not yet submitted a complete application so we are uncertain of what their intentions are." The Swampscott Planning Board voted unanimously Monday to approve Glover LLC’s plans for a 140-unit residential development at the site of the historic Gen. John Glover property. “As we all know, Gen. John Glover was an amazing historical…

19 Oct

Historic perambulation planned for downtown Marblehead

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Local News

The Select Board authorized a downtown perambulation — a colonial-era tradition of walking and documenting public ways — before the end of the year. People join a past perambulation to maintain Marblehead's public ways. CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS The practice dates to 1641 in Massachusetts and has been revived in Marblehead after a period when the walks were not conducted regularly. Town Engineer Maggie Wheeler outlined a route beginning at Abbot Hall and passing through historic streets and alleys, including Lookout Court, Prospect Alley,…

30 Sep

Beloved Marblehead historian, benefactor Standley Goodwin dies

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Top Stories

The Marblehead Museum will host a celebration of life for Standley Goodwin at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and Brick Kitchen on Thursday, Oct. 15, 4-6 p.m. The celebration will be open to the public. Family and museum staff andassociates will speak about Goodwin’s life and service to the town. Goodwin died Sept. 28 at the age of 88. Goodwin graduated from Marblehead High, Class of 1956, and studied aeronautical engineering at MIT. He spent his entire career at MIT and Draper Labs and also worked with…

15 Sep

Swampscott board hears plans for 140-unit Glover residences, historic house preservation

Monica SagerLocal History, Top Stories

This article is shared from the Swampscott Tides. Attorney Gerry D’Ambrosio, counsel for the Glover Residences project, presented revised plans for the 140-unit development to the Swampscott Planning Board Monday, confirming that the historic Glover House will be preserved. “The goal with the Glover House is to integrate it within the development,” D’Ambrosio said. “They are not going to spend tens of millions of dollars and have a dilapidated Glover House... It’s a drastic, drastic improvement.” D’Ambrosio presented a slideshow and fielded questions from the…

08 Sep

NEWS IN BRIEF: New town hires, schools return $800K, Green Communities vote coming

Leigh BlanderArt, Education, Environment, Local History, Local News, Municipal Matters, News in brief

The Current accepts News in Brief submissions of 150-200 words at info@marbleheadnews.org. Town hires treasurerThe town has hired a new treasurer, Shaun Strobel. Strobel has more than 20 years experience as a treasurer in various municipalities, including Worcester, Sharon and, most recently, Marshfield. For the last several years, Marblehead has combined the positions of treasurer and collector. Cami Iannarelli remains as collector. The collector is responsible for billing and collecting money owed to the town, including property taxes. The treasurer manages that money. School business managerOn Aug.…

28 Aug

MARBLEHEAD MEMORIES: Growing up at 120 Pleasant — part three

Don OrneColumns, Local History, Opinion

Editor’s Note: Donald Orne, 84, is a lifelong Marblehead resident whose family has been part of the town for generations. His father, Bud Orne, owned the barber shop at 120 Pleasant St., where the family also lived. This series shares Orne’s memories of growing up in Marblehead during the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. The essays have been edited only for length, grammar and clarity. This is the second installment of Orne’s writings. You can read the first two installments at MarbleheadCurrent.org. I need to mention…

19 Aug

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Leigh BlanderAbbot Public Library, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Local History, Recreation, Theater, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org. Adult Craft NightThursday, Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m.Join Slime Time Studios MHD for Adult Craft Night, 10 Spring St. Come with friends, make new friends and go home with a beautiful craft that you create. For their first Adult Craft Night you will be making beautiful pressed-flower frames while we chat and have a good time! Feel free to BYOB. Tickets are $35.…

05 Aug

MARBLEHEAD MEMORIES: Growing up at 120 Pleasant St. Part 2

Don OrneLocal History, Opinion

Editor's Note: Donald Orne, 84, is a lifelong Marblehead resident whose family has been part of the town for generations. His father, Bud Orne, owned the barber shop at 120 Pleasant St., where the family also lived. This series shares Orne's memories of growing up in Marblehead during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. The essays have been edited only for length, grammar and clarity. This is the second installment of Orne's writings. You can read the first installment HERE. After entering 120 Pleasant St, my father…

21 Jul

Glover, uncovered: Historian-author O’Donnell puts human face on founding at Abbot Hall

Jordan HorowitzLocal History, Top Stories

Anyone who has grown up in Marblehead has heard the story of our town’s pivotal role in the Revolutionary War countless times. This repetition may lead locals to think that we know the whole story, that any retelling of it will just be old hat. At Abbot Hall on July 19, historian and author Patrick K. O’Donnell gave a talk on Marblehead’s Revolutionary War history that demonstrated that there is always more to learn. By poring through archives, examining newly discovered artifacts and providing new…

21 Jul

History comes to life at annual Glover’s encampment

Aleka KroitzshLocal History, Top Stories

Glover’s Regiment and their friends transported visitors to the Revolutionary era during their annual reenactment of an 18th-century military camp at Fort Sewall Saturday. Around 100 people wearing 18th-century garb chatted with visitors and flitted between tents and tables. Cannons and muskets were fired during battle reenactments, children partook in a military drill, and members of Glover’s Regiment demonstrated 18th-century craftsmanship, including butter churning, candle making, blacksmithery, laundry and weaving. “Just about every battle is like a big family reunion,” said Bob Deisle, who has…