Round Hill site improvements to be unveiled

SAUGUS – The Saugus Historical Commission invites the public to see what it?s been up to at the Round Hill site at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.The 10 a.m. ceremony will take place at Round Hill and will unveil the historic cast-iron fence that will separate the historical site from the Public Safety Building, dedicated to the commission by retired Saugus teacher Ruth Backer. The fence?s previous use was separating Backer?s home from the Riverside Cemetery.Chairman Steve Carlson said the unveiling of the fence will be the result of about four years of work, which included Town Meeting?s appropriation for funds to purchase the fence. Thursday?s event will not only be about showing Saugus residents what they paid for, but about sharing a piece of history.?We need to keep the site on people?s minds, to help reinforce to the community the historic significance of the property,” said Carlson. “A lot of people in town have no idea, other than perhaps Saugus Ironworks, that Saugus has a long history, going back to the first settlement in 1629.”Carlson said though the area behind the Public Safety Building is now overgrown with trees, it used to be more of an open site a couple hundred years ago. Its elevation over the town would have made it a site of scouting and observation. Carlson said some have found arrowhead artifacts at the site, pointing to its significance as an essential feature of the town.Curtis White of Ironworks will be at the event Thursday to talk about the Native American presence in Saugus. Carlson said Backer will be part of the program of the event, as will students from the Veteran Memorial School performing patriotic songs.Carlson said it?s important that students be included in the process of restoring the site. “As they grow up, they will have more of a sense of the history of their town,” he said.There will also be an acknowledgement of people and companies that donated to the project. Carlson said though the fence was paid for by the town, the commission will need funding for their future plans, which includes adding a standing sign outlining the site?s history and some granite pavers so visitors in wheelchairs can access it. Carlson said one resident has offered to donate a bench to the site.The commission will be selling coasters marked with the town seal to raise funds for its future projects, but Carlson is hoping that by seeing progression at the site, people will be encouraged to donate.In case of rain Thursday, the event will be held at Town Hall.