Local History - Marblehead Current

06 Jul

Veteran museum leader Marshall named new executive director in Marblehead

Leigh BlanderArt, Education, Local History, Local News

Veteran museum professional Dan Marshall, of Salem, has been named the new executive director of the Marblehead Museum. He brings more than 25 years of experience in museums and public history to the role. Marshall succeeds former executive director Lauren McCormack, whose leadership helped raise the museum's profile over the last decade. Dan Marshall has started this week as the new executie director of the Marblehead Museum. COURTESY PHOTO “This is a great opportunity to build on the successes,” Marshall told the Current. He is…

04 Jul

Fireworks display caps festive REV250 celebrations in Marblehead

Grey CollinsLocal History, Recreation, Top Stories

Marblehead capped off an incredible July Fourth, celebrating the nation's 250th birthday, with a spectacular Harbor Illumination and fireworks display. At least 1,000 people gathered at Crocker Park to watch the pyrotechnics and listen to live music. People lined the harbor to see the show from different vantage points. A firework explodes over Marblehead Harbor on Saturday night. CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS Here's a video of the show at Crocker at about 9:30 p.m. https://videopress.com/v/gIW1LSxf?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true At about 9:30 p.m., what appeared to be a…

04 Jul

Revolution comes alive as Marblehead celebrates America’s 250th

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Top Stories

Marblehead is celebrating America's 250th birthday this Fourth of July with living history, music, art and cannon fire, honoring the town's Revolutionary roots from Abbot Hall to Fort Sewall. At 11:30 p.m., the Select Board read the Declaration of Independence in front of the "Spirit of '76" painting on the first floor. State Rep. Jenny Armini, who lives in town, delivered a replica of Ezekial Russell Declaration to town leaders. It is printed using the same Franklin-type press that was used in 1776. "Massachusetts is…

04 Jul

Marblehead marks America’s 250th with Revolutionary spirit

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Top Stories

This Fourth of July, Marblehead will celebrate more than the nation's birthday. As communities across the country commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Marblehead's REV250 Committee is inviting residents and visitors to honor the town's Revolutionary roots through a series of events that stretch well beyond Independence Day. The committee has spent months organizing programs that began in April and will continue throughout the year, highlighting Marblehead's role in the nation's founding. Saturday's signature events will feature live readings of the Declaration of…

16 Jun

New museum exhibit highlights unsung Marbleheaders of the Revolution

Jordan HorowitzLocal History, Top Stories

The name of Marblehead Museum’s new exhibit, “Voices of Independence: Marblehead in the Revolution,” might make you think that it focuses entirely on the men of Marblehead who fought in the Revolutionary War. And while the exhibit does contain incredible military artifacts like a muster role from Glover’s Regiment and swords used by Marbleheaders in the Battle of Bunker Hill, it also shows that the town has a long history of independence that goes beyond those more familiar war stories. As Jarrett Zeman, the museum’s…

09 Jun

Select Board doesn’t relish idea of ‘Spirit of ’76’ sullied by hot dog

Leigh BlanderArt, Local History, Top Stories

A national hot dog marketing campaign celebrating America's 250th birthday will feature Revolutionary-era imagery, George Washington and historic works of art — but not Marblehead's beloved “The Spirit of ’76.” In March, the Select Board unanimously rejected a request from Kayem Foods to use Archibald M. Willard's iconic painting in a nationwide advertising campaign commemorating the nation's semiquincentennial. The Select Board rejected a request to use “The Spirit of ’76,” which hangs in Abbot Hall, in a hot dog marketing campaign marking the 250th anniversary…

01 Jun

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Culture, Education, Entertainment, Local History, Recreation, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights notable happenings around town in the coming week. To submit a listing, email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org Jazz evening Thursday, June 4, 7-10:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)The jazz artist Alex Minasian Quartet will perform at The Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St. Enjoy a cash bar. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at tickettailor.com/events/marbleheadarts/2182376 or in advance at the Marblehead Art Association or at Arnould Gallery. The Heritage Friend Event Thursday, June 4, 5:30-7 p.m. Join Essex Heritage for an evening exploring hidden histories…

28 May

New Brick Kitchen exhibit centers humanity of enslaved people

Leigh BlanderEducation, Local History, Top Stories

A new permanent exhibit opening June 1 at the Marblehead Museum’s Brick Kitchen seeks to tell a difficult but deeply human story about the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked in Marblehead. Housed inside the museum’s newly restored Brick Kitchen building on Washington Street, the exhibit features 10 striking portraits by Peabody artist Yamanda Wright representing enslaved individuals whose stories were uncovered through years of archival research. Lauren McCormack, director of the Marblehead Museum, stands inside the new Brick Kitchen exhibit, which opens…

27 May

VIDEO: What’s a question you would ask your Marblehead neighbors?

Leigh BlanderCulture, Local History, Top Stories

The Current is proud to share the video series, Harborside, by Marblehead High students Max Kane and Grey Collins. The two aim to capture authentic stories and foster understanding between neighbors by asking Marbleheaders on the street to answer questions on camera. Each video has a different theme — this one focuses on questions that Marbleheaders have for one another. https://videopress.com/v/WvHzxyoA?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

11 May

NEW: Popular Marblehead Museum leader stepping away on eve of 250th

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Top Stories

The Current has learned that Marblehead Museum Executive Director Lauren McCormack is resigning effective June 30. She has been at the museum since 2018. "As much as I love the museum, I just can't do the three-hour round trip commute everyday anymore (I live in central Mass). I have accepted a position as executive director of Freedom's Way National Heritage Area and start there in early July," McCormack wrote in an email. She added about Marblehead Museum: "We are in the process of hiring a new…