Marblehead historical board upset over being left in dark about middle school tour

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Veterans Middle School’s first-ever Grade 8 Amazing Race, in which 250 Grade 8 students made an historic tour of Marblehead on June 15, is still a subject of excited discussion in and out of school.In fact, it was such a success that the Historical Commission wants in. That wish came up at Tuesday’s commission meeting at Abbot Hall.Students went to the Old Town House, the Masonic Hall, Abbot Hall and four other historic downtown locations, carrying "passports" that they got stamped at each site.Principal Elizabeth "Libby" Moore issued an online "thank you" to the volunteers, parents, staff, students and community for a wonderful and rewarding day and she had a list of people she wanted to commend for helping out – and she wants to make the race an annual event.Historical Commission member Harry Christensen, a former selectman, spent the entire day at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Museum, talking to groups of students about the exhibits and their historic meaning.He was impressed by the attention the eighth graders gave him. "You could hear a pin drop," Christensen said, "and most of them asked questions." Town Historian Bette Hunt and Selectman Judy Jacobi were among the adult historians participating.As a group, however, Historical Commission members had "no clue" of the impending event and former Selectman William Conly said he for one would have enjoyed leading a tour of Abbot Hall, even if he was limited to 20 minutes."We’re the point people for that type of thing and we should have been notified," Conly said.Christensen took responsibility for not mentioning the commission to Moore and the others planning the event.Commission Chairman P. Chris Johnston said he would write a letter to the superintendent of schools congratulating him on the success of the program and encouraging the schools to do more with local history. That struck a chord with commission members, who recalled how the middle school used to teach a course in Marblehead history."Let’s put Marblehead history back in the curriculum," Conly said.