SWAMPSCOTT — If holly, red ribbons, and pine garlands put you in a holiday mood, then thank John McLaughlin for Town Hall’s festive facade.
The life-long town resident and retired Danvers public school teacher waves off taking credit for the wreaths and colorful planting adorning Town Hall’s exterior and nearby town monuments.
McLaughlin prefers to credit town public works employees for their work hanging the decorations from Town Hall’s windows and doors. But McLaughlin has demonstrated an abiding interest in organizing efforts to beautify the building that extend beyond the holiday season.
“He doesn’t like the limelight but he has been an unbelievable asset,” said Gino Cresta Jr., Assistant Town Administrator for Operations.
A fan of facts and figures, McLaughlin said Kane’s Flower World provided 30 pine bough wreaths to decorate Town Hall’s exterior as well as the Civil War monument and 120 feet of pine garland is wrapped around the hall’s doors.
Town Hall’s Elmwood Road entrance is framed by planters sprouting seasonal juniper, winterberry, cedar, and another berry plant called ilex spruced up with decorative ornaments.
“I buy the ornaments at the end of the year half priced,” McLaughlin said.
Retired for 17 years from a career teaching English, McLaughlin suspects he inherited his green thumb from his father, who was an avid gardener.
Searching for ways seven years ago to occupy his post-retirement time, McLaughlin accepted an appointment to the town Beautification Committee, initially scoffing at its archaic-sounding name until he realized the ample opportunities for putting the committee’s mission to good use.
The committee initiated flower plantings on Monument Avenue and worked to replace the dying boxwood planting spelling out “Swampscott” with flowers — 239 marigolds to be exact.
The planting initiative spread to town cemetery entrances and in 2014, McLaughlin worked to organize a project repairing damage to Town Hall’s exterior.
“He was instrumental in getting that done,” Cresta said.
McLaughlin dug into Town Hall’s history and discovered that the building’s early years as a seat of town government saw it adorned for the holidays.
Town employees decorate the hall’s interior during the holidays with plantings and other festive items. McLaughlin shouldered the exterior decoration work with help from public works employees.
He joined them in braving last week’s frigid weather to hang wreaths and credited town employees for finding ways to attach decorations to the Town Hall and monuments without damaging the aging stone. Ground lighting added to strategic spots around Town Hall help make the building a holiday attraction after dark.
“It is the appreciation that makes it worthwhile. I hear people say, ‘I drive by here just because it makes me feel good,'” McLaughlin said.
