PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
A letter to “the Inhabitants of the Town of Marblehead” from George Washington, dated Nov. 1, 1789.
BY LEAH DEARBORN
MARBLEHEAD — George Washington didn’t think much of Marblehead or its residents when he visited in 1789.
“The houses are old, the streets dirty and common people not very clean,” the nation’s first president wrote in a letter to the town’s fathers a few weeks later.
The Marblehead Historical Commission presented documents at Abbot Hall on Wednesday.
Washington’s letter “To the Inhabitants of the Town of Marblehead,” was handwritten and signed by Washington. On Oct. 29, 1789, Washington traveled through Marblehead.
Washington kept a detailed diary in which he mentions deviating from his Boston plans to tour Marblehead.
The other documents on display consist of a letter “to ye Selectmen of Marblehead in Town Meeting” from 1774 and another letter addressed to Major General Jonathan Glover.
A “Resolve of Massachusetts General Court,” was the fourth document, which was signed by John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
The documents were rediscovered by Historical Commission volunteers while going through other town documents.
“This was a team effort,” said Town Administrator John J. McGinn. “And a really special thing for the town to have on display. It enhances the town’s connection to the Revolution.”
Abbot Hall will be open for extended hours during the Memorial Day holiday in order to allow as many people as possible to view the documents, which are located in the Selectmen’s Room. The festivities will begin on Thursday and run throughout the weekend.
There will be a muster at Old Town House on Monday around 7:45 a.m., with the main parade beginning at 8:45 a.m.
