MARBLEHEAD — Fort Sewall, the iconic, centuries-old landmark overlooking the harbor is being celebrated Saturday at an event commemorating its completed restoration and the 100th anniversary of its being returned to Marblehead’s custody.
The celebration is set to kick off at 10 a.m. and will run until noon, the town said in a statement. During the event, residents can take tours of the iconic fort, witness Glover’s Regiment cannon salutes, and enjoy refreshments.
Established in 1644, the fort is one of the oldest coastal fortifications in the nation, the town said in a statement. For years, Fort Sewall was known as the Marblehead Fort or the Fort on Gale’s Head, and it earned its current moniker in 1800 to honor Samuel Sewall, the chief justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court.
Custody of the fort was returned to the town by the federal government in 1922.
The restoration of the fort, which served as an important military defense for more than 300 years and draws thousands of visitors each year, was undergone in order to provide the site with replica 19th-century cannons, interior and exterior upgrades, and improved safety and accessibility, the Item reported.
The restoration has included masonry work, the replacement of stairs, window bars, and brick coating. The project has also involved repaving the pathways, making the property fully handicap accessible, and renovating bathrooms that hadn’t been upgraded since 1922, Larry Sands, chairman of the Marblehead Fort Sewall Oversight Committee told the Item in 2020.
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
