How Should the Town Pay for the $2.1M Repairs to Abbot Hall?

The clock tower at Abbot Hall is in need of $2.1 million worth of repairs, town officials say. Residents seem eager to have the repairs done, but how to pay for it? An override? Private donations? Some kind of combination?

Repairing Marblehead's trademark Abbot Hall clock tower will cost $2.1 million — and it may take most of 2014 to fix the extensive damage caused by weather over the last 137 years, the Board of Selectmen were told at their meeting Wednesday night. And it could cost much more if the state Architectural Access Board does not grant variances, as it did with the Old Town House, that would require the town to make Abbot Hall more handicapped accessible. The news has town residents buzzing about the cost, the duty to protect the iconic building and ways to pay for it aside from an override. "I'm sure there will be many people in the community who will be prepared to donate money to the repairs in exchange for being included in a brass plaque to …

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This Week in History

This Week in Marblehead History: 1977

Here's a look back at some stories that were making headlines on this week in 1977.

Every week, Marblehead Patch digs through the Marblehead Messenger microfilm archives at Abbot Public Library to find out what was happening on this week in local history. In 1977:  Three Christmas Week House Breaks: Police continue their investigation into three separate housebreaks which occurred during the past week - including one where thieves smashed in a back door and absconded with rugs and silverware while the occupants slept. The break-ins occurred on Tedesco Street and were discovered at 4:30 a.m. on Monday when Mr. Harding got up and noticed some furnishings missing. Closing of One Local School Coming Alive as Issue: Gerry, Roads, Story, Seaside, which will be the loser? The School Committee will meet Thursday at 7:45 at the …

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The Keepers of the Clock (VIDEO)

Thanks to a handful of committed volunteers, the clock atop Abbot Hall is always right on time.

From the lighthouse on Marblehead Neck to the narrow streets of Old Town, Abbot Hall's clock tower can be seen and heard for miles. Though many enjoy the sound of her tolls, few know that Abbot Hall's clock is kept accurate by a handful of devout volunteers who climb up into the tower and hand-crank it every Thursday morning. Even before town employees arrive to start their day, The "Abbot Hall Cranks" begin assembling near the building's main entrance, laughing and swapping stories. As 8 a.m. draws near, Abbot Hall's longtime maintenance man Steve Ware retreats to his office and returns with an atomic clock to test the bell tower's accuracy. Thursday's 8 a.m. toll came 21 seconds late, earning a "not bad" from Ware. All together, the …

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