John Adams to visit Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD – Two hundred twenty years ago – March 6, 1789 – Marblehead presented John Adams with a gift of fish.Later this month he’s coming back – in spirit, at least.According to Samuel Roads’ 1881 history of the town, Marbleheaders wished to express their gratitude to the then-Vice President of the United States for his work on the peace treaty with Great Britain, which helped to preserve Massachusetts cod fishing.As Roads wrote, "These (cod fishing) advantages were considered as especially beneficial to Marblehead."A town meeting voted to send Adams six quintals of table fish, along with a letter expressing their thanks. A quintal or hundredweight, by the way, is an obsolete measurement with different definitions in different places – so the gift could have been as much as 600 pounds of fish.A committee consisting of Marston Watson, Joshua Orne and Thomas Lewis, three prominent Marbleheaders of that day, was charged with forwarding the fish and the letter of thanks to the Vice President.Sunday, March 29, President John Adams will visit the town – sort of. The historical figure of John Adams, portrayed by noted actor George Baker, will present his views of the nation, history and family life in an informative, humorous and inspiring speech in the Malcolm M. Bell School Auditorium on Baldwin Road, sponsored by the Friends of Abbot Public Library (FOAL).He will be wearing the clothes he would have worn as the second president of the United States (1797-1801). The program is entitled "Meet John Adams – a witty and revolutionary conversation with America’s second president." It will begin at 1:30 p.m. and it will be followed by refreshments and informal conversation with President Adams. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased on the third floor of the library from Mary Starrett, administrative assistant, from 2-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by sending a check for $5 made out to FOAL to FOAL, P.O. Box 1391, Marblehead, MA 01945-5391, with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.