MARBLEHEAD — A room in Abbot Hall has a new look intended to better suit some of the town’s most valuable artifacts.
The Shattuck Fund, through a $28,000 grant, paid for new carpet, window treatments, and museum-quality paint for the Selectmen’s Room, which houses the town’s beloved Spirit of ’76 painting and several other historical pieces.
“The walls are slightly more gray tone to show off the artwork better,” said Chris Johnston, chairman of the Marblehead Historical Commission. “All artwork came off the walls and has been rearranged to give it better visual spacing.”
The space originally served as a library reading room. But when the new Abbott Public Library building was constructed in 1954, it took on a new purpose.
While it is now used by Marblehead selectmen for regular meetings, it’s also a place for weddings and other special events, and holds some of the town’s most valuable artifacts.
Artifacts of Marblehead’s history line the walls of the room, including the 1684 deed of purchase for the town’s land from the Naumkeag tribe for 16 British pounds, which is about $80 in today’s dollars, and letters from George Washington, Elbridge Gerry, Paul Revere, and documents signed by John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
The collection also includes a painting of Washington Passing the Delaware by William T. Bartoll, circa 1850, which was discovered on the dirt floor of the building’s cellar in 1975, according to the town’s website.
But it’s the Spirit of ’76 painting that is the prominent focal point of the room, and many of the renovations made last week were intended to highlight its importance, said Johnston.
The painting, originally titled Yankee Doodle, was created by Archibald M. Willard of Cleveland, Ohio, for the 1876 centennial celebration.
It was donated to the town building by Marblehead native General John H. Devereux, whose son was the inspiration behind the drummer boy in the painting, said Johnston.
While many copies of the painting have been made, the one that hangs in Abbot Hall is the original.
Beige-colored drapes have replaced the red velvet ones, the carpet has been replaced, and the selectmen’s table has been reoriented to better showcase the important pieces.
Johnston said the improvements came at a good time. The updates were overdue, he said, and crews were already preparing to cut into the walls to update cameras used for recording meetings.
The Shattuck Fund provides grants to our Marblehead organizations each year, said Johnston. This year, the Historical Commission was chosen as a recipient.
“They’ve just been wonderful in supporting us and helping us keep Abbot Hall in good condition,” he said.
