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IN THIS ISSUE
HISTORY
ELECTION 2023
OPINION
The famous Lindsey Hard Cracker
Part 2 of the Current’s candidates guide
We’re gonna make it after all
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MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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June 07, 2023
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 28
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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HISTORY
Demo delay pauses Glover property development Swampscott Historical Commission, Marblehead regiment hope to save historic house before razing BY WILLIAM J. DOWD The Glover’s Marblehead Regiment and Swampscott Historical Commission have joined forces to save a historically-significant building on a Vinnin Square property that is being developed into a 140unit condo complex. The property at 299 Salem Road spans three towns: Marblehead, Swampscott and Salem, and possesses a colorful
past dating back to before the American Revolution. Initially, the property was the William Browne family farm, managed by Thomas Vining. It later became the residence of Gen. John Glover, a famed Revolutionary War figure, from approximately 1781 until his death in 1797. Glover was the brains behind the Crossing of the Delaware, a surprise attack led by General George Washington during the American
Revolution on Christmas night 1776. “The most recent usage of the property was as a restaurant owned by Anthony Athanas called the General Glover House,” Larry Sands, a member of Glover’s Regiment, told the Marblehead Current. “The restaurant closed about 25 years ago, and there have been rumors of planned development of the site several times over that period but none that came to
fruition.” Sands said the historic house has been abandoned for approximately 25 years and is in disrepair. A Swampscott Historical Commission-sponsored review by architectural historian Frederic C. Detwiller has identified several features from the 18th-century house that remain intact and, it says, merit preservation efforts. For this reason, Nancy
COMMUNITY
Marblehead ushers in Pride Month with flag-raising ceremony
Schultz, chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission, said her commission has invoked a ninemonth demolition delay. “We voted on April 20,” she said. “That starts the clock ticking.” She said the commission favors the housing development, especially because “there is going to be some affordable-housing units.” “So, this is not about trying to GLOVER, P. A10
OUTDOORS
Town cuts ribbon on bike park Green Street Woods ‘build days’ set for every other Wednesday BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD
Hope Watt-Bucci raises the progressive pride flag with Raine Hamilton, 15, on June 3 at Abbot Hall.
Speakers say fight for equality continues despite victories in recent years BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Gray skies and drizzling rain brought Marblehead’s pride ceremony into the very heart of Abbot Hall on Saturday, with attendees gathering outside the first-floor Select Board’s office. The hour-long ceremony was filled with speeches and student performances before the community
raised a progressive pride flag outside. Marblehead native Sherry Maspons grew up gay in town about 50 years ago, she told the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd at the ceremony. “I always knew I was [gay],” said Maspons. “It didn’t have a name. It didn’t have a face. I didn’t know anyone who was gay.” When she was a young adult, she began dating a coworker. They eventually moved in together, living out of a single-bedroom apartment in Marblehead. “Everything felt right for the first PRIDE, P. A8
Alli H. Barnes, a sixth-grader at Village School, reads her poem.
Marblehead has officially cut a ribbon to inaugurate a new bike park nestled behind the lush, summertime foliage of the Green Street Woods. The grand opening on May 28 marked the culmination of a prolonged, three-year process to site and construct a bike park. “Today is all about welcoming the community to the Green Street Woods, celebrating its opening and expressing our gratitude,” said Rick Smyers. “People just came out of the woodwork and lent a hand when we announced that we were undertaking this project.” Fox Duckworth, 11, and his younger brother, Otto, 9, were among the dozens of children and adults who brought the bike park to life. Bikers navigated small bumps known as ‘rollers,’ maneuvered around sharp corners or ‘berms’ and caught air off jumps known as ‘table tops.’ “We are very excited,” Fox said. “I’m participating in an endurance race in the fall, so now I have a place to come and practice.” He aims to master what he called a ‘bunny hop’ and build confidence when taking larger drops. The boys and their father, Geoff Duckworth, started the Sprocket Rockets, a mountain biking team that competes in the New England Youth Cycling League, which BIKES, P. A11
FESTIVAL OF ARTS
Artists launch Cods & Whales auction at Abbot Hall BY LEIGH BLANDER Hundreds of people packed Abbot Hall for the kick-off of the Marblehead Festival of Arts’ Cods & Whales auction on June 2. Nearly 60 local artists decorated one-of-a-kind wooden cods and — new this year — plastic whales to be displayed in local retailers and auctioned off. The cods measure 18 inches by 7 inches, and the whales are much larger at 55 inches by 15 inches. “It’s super fun to have all the artists who are local come together like this every year,”
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
said Stephanie Krauss Verdun, who owns Out of the Box Studio on Atlantic Avenue and painted both a cod and a whale this year. “People collect the cods. They’re so cool.” Verdun has been painting cods for the auction for about six years. Marian Hostetter painted a sunset view from Overlook Road, where she lives. Her daughter and son-in-law also created cods this year. “I just think the festival is so unique,” Hostetter said. “Anything that brings people together and encourages
creativity is wonderful.” Jennifer Chaisson painted a whale titled “Pearl,” employing a more realistic approach. “I went on lots of whale watches as a kid, and I loved it when a whale would surface and look right at us,” she said. “My take comes from that memory.” Chaisson’s whale is gray with markings to represent barnacles and scratches from giant squid that are common on sperm whales. Larry and Gina McGuire of Marblehead came out to ART, P. A8
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Artist Stephanie Krauss Verdun, standing with her daughter Hannah, shows off her painted whale.