Marblehead selectmen OK Abbot Hall site for portrait

MARBLEHEAD ? A portrait of Marblehead philanthropist Uriel Crocker will be displayed by the main door of the selectmen?s meeting room at Abbot Hall.Uriel Crocker (1796-1887) was a self-made 19th Century business tycoon who donated Crocker Park to the town. His portrait, which stands nearly 5 feet in height, was painted in the late 1880s by noted European artist Hubert Von Herkomer and was donated to the town by Crocker?s descendant, Tuck Crocker.With little discussion, selectmen voted unanimously Wednesday night to display it in their room 4-0, on a motion by Selectman Judy Jacobi.They were given three choices by the Historical Commission: the entry wall of the Abbot Hall auditorium, the wall facing the building?s main staircase and the selectmen?s meeting room.The Historical Commission was represented by former selectman William Conly. Selectman and Commissioner Harry Christensen, who made the commission?s motion to display the portrait in the selectmen?s meeting room, was late Wednesday night and missed the selectmen?s vote.The commission spent part of two meetings discussing the display of the painting and visited the proposed display sites both times, spending most of their time in the selectmen?s room.The meeting room location is on the southerly wall of the room, above the letter Marblehead received from the Marquis deLafayette. The display choice means that Lafayette?s letter will have to be moved downward and another letter commending Russell Knight for his contributions to the town will have to be moved elsewhere. To balance the display the commissioners recommended that a self-portrait of Archibald Willard, who painted the Spirit of ?76, be moved upward on the adjacent wall.In addition to Willard and the large painting of the Spirit of ?76, Crocker will be joining paintings of George Washington crossing the Delaware and General John Glover and a sculpture of U.S. Vice President Elbridge Gerry.