Marblehead selectmen discuss painting location

MARBLEHEAD – When selectmen choose a place to display a large historic portrait of Marbleheader Uriel Crocker (1796-1887), the self-made business tycoon who donated Crocker Park to the town, they will have three options.Asked to recommend display sites by the selectmen, the Historical Commission has offered three suggestions.The commission recommended that the painting be displayed upstairs in the Abbot Hall auditorium one month ago.However, according to their minutes, the selectmen asked the commission for suggestions – “plural,” as Chairman Chris Johnston pointed out Tuesday morning. That prompted further discussion.The commissioners Tuesday toured possible alternate display sites in the main hallway of the building and in the selectmen?s meeting room.Commission member and Selectman Harry Christensen moved to add a hallway display site opposite the main staircase and a location in the selectmen?s meeting room to the list of suggestions.The meeting room location is on the southerly wall of the room, above the letter Marblehead received from the Marquis deLafayette. If the painting is displayed there, a letter commending Russell Knight for his contributions to the town will have to be moved elsewhere. Commissioners are also recommending that a self-portrait of Archibald Willard, who painted the Spirit of ?76, be moved higher on the adjacent wall.Christensen?s motion to display the Crocker portrait in the hallway, an idea of Commissioner William Conly?s, was seconded by Conly.However, the motion to display the painting in the selectmen?s room was seconded by Commissioner Nancy Graves and approved 3-1 with Conly opposed.In a lengthy argument, Conly said, “You can?t compare Crocker with the people we have in the selectmen?s room,” referring to General John Glover and U.S. Vice President Elbridge Gerry. He said most tourists linger longest by the Spirit of ?76 and the plaque proclaiming Marblehead to be the birthplace of the Navy.Johnston reminded him that the artifacts displayed in the selectmen?s room change from time to time, most recently after a 2011 cleaning. “Just because we put something in the selectmen?s room doesn?t mean it?s there forever.”The painting, which stands nearly 5 feet, was painted in the late 1880s by noted European artist Hubert Von Herkomer. It was donated by Crocker?s descendant, Tuck Crocker.