Marblehead seeks historic recognition for Seaside Park

MARBLEHEAD – Recreation and Park Commission members are hoping that Seaside Park and the Elliot Roundy Grandstand will hit a home run with the National Register of Historic Places.Although graffiti was discovered on the recently repainted grandstand last week, requiring the commission to seek more donations of paint and labor to clean up the vandalism, most of the news is good.Chairman Derek Norcross said Tuesday that the Massachusetts Historical Commission has offered Marblehead the services of a consultant who will prepare the town’s application for a place on the United States official list of historic buildings and sites.Norcross plans to meet with the consultant in mid-September.The Massachusetts historians suggested the consultant to Norcross after approving the commission’s second application. The work will be done at no cost to the town.”We’re relieved that we’re getting professional help and we don’t have to pay someone to do this,” Norcross said.So far in the application process Marblehead has dealt with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which must approve all applications before they can go to the federal level.The town is reaching the climactic point of a process that began with the “Save the Seaside Grandstand” campaign in 1990-1991, spearheaded by the family of Elliott Roundy, a local athlete and coach who died in 1997. Voters debated the demolition of the grandstand and eventually decided to let it stand and allow a fund drive to pay for renovations.During the past two years there have been other renovations: new doors, windows and roof and repairs to the siding, paid for partly by the town and partly by donations, some in the name of Roundy’s widow, Jane, who died this year.In a letter commission member David Rodgers thanked “all the good people of Marblehead for their donations to preserve ‘a piece of history’ for future generations to enjoy.”Rodgers singled out contractors Mike Griffin and Glenn Fulton & Sons, Tim Green of Marblehead Ace Hardware, Sarah and Ian Hart and Sam, Tom and Eric Roundy.