Friends of Town Hall seeking donations for permanent Hallin display

SAUGUS – The Friends of Saugus Town Hall is trying to raise $2,300 to construct a permanent display in honor of Isabelle Hallin.Glassworks of Hanover has been commissioned to create the 4-foot by 2-foot display, which will include a photo of Hallin and a statement of principle, both etched into glass and mounted on the stairs going toward the Town Hall auditorium.The statement of principle will read: “May our actions within this Town Hall lead to greater wisdom and justice rather than sorrow or regret,” and will be accompanied by an image of Hallin from July 1937 on her way to Town Hall.?That was when she was about to enter Town Hall for a citizens meeting, and that picture resembles Isabelle as she was before she left Saugus and went to New York,” said Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian. “The feeling was that this was the way people of Saugus remember seeing her last. The committee felt it was important that that picture be used.”As a 25-year-old teacher at Saugus High School in 1937, Hallin held a school play rehearsal in her parents? basement because the high school was too cold. Soon after, rumors spread that she was serving alcohol and cigarettes to students and the School Committee at the time voted to request Hallin?s resignation.After the story spread nationally, Hallin headed to New York to try and make it as an actress, but she was found dead in her apartment on Christmas Eve 1941. Authorities said she died of gas asphyxiation from her oven.The School Committee voted 11 days later to exonerate Hallin of any wrongdoing.Manoogian, who wrote the Town Meeting article seeking approval for the display, said the concept and design was a team effort with members of the Friends of Saugus Town Hall, which includes Susan Dunn, Donna Gould, Peter Rossetti, Nelson Chang, Stephen Carlson, and Edward and Marilyn Carlson.?This really, truly has been a collaborative effort,” said Manoogian.For anyone walking to or from the auditorium, Manoogian said the glass surface of the display will serve to reflect both themselves and the statement.?My personal feeling is that people will consider the consequences of their actions, whether they be in the process of voting or interacting with citizens?” said Manoogian. “At some point, everyone in Saugus goes into Town hall for something ? This is a principle that we should all carry with us. There is no better example that exists in the last 100 years of what can happen when we lose sight of it.”Manoogian said if there is any leftover money, it will be used to store and digitize the copious amount of historic documents he has compiled on Hallin.Donations can range from $10 for a “friend” up to $500 for a “principal sponsor.” Anyone interested in donating can send a check made payable to Town of Saugus and send to: Friends of Saugus Town Hall, Attn: Susan Dunn, 298 Central St., Saugus, MA 01906.Manoogian will also be giving a presentation on Hallin at the Saugus Library on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].