Abbot Hall Weather Vane Restoration Project Gaining Steam

The Marblehead Historical Commission recently secured $9,500 toward the restoration of Abbot Hall's well-known weather vane.

For the thousands of local residents whose view of the Marblehead "skyline" includes the Abbot Hall bell-tower, the fact that the building is missing it's trademark weather vane has taken some getting used to.  At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen Wednesday night, Chairwoman Jackie Belf-Becker read aloud a letter sent in by the town's Historical Commission announcing that they recently secured $9,500 to be used toward restoring the piece of Marbehead history. The weather vane may look small atop the building, but when it was brought down to ground level in March, Abbot Hall maintenance worker Steve Ware pointed out how it had become "a real hazard" to people walking in and out of the building. "There was a metal fitting that was holding …

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Owen Boss

6:51 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012

They secured $9,500 for the restoration and re installation. It's unclear whether or not the effort will require the entire $9,500. We'll be sure to let you know.   more ›

You Ask...Patch Answers

Where's the Abbot Hall Weather Vane?

This week's You Ask...Patch Answers column is all about the Abbot Hall weather vane.

Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. Last week, we received an email from Charles Stacey, who wondered when local residents can expect the trademark weather vane will return to the top of Abbot Hall.  Charles asked: "I am curious as to when the weather vane will be put back into place at the top of Abbott Hall?" --- In case you haven't noticed, Abbot Hall's trademark weather vane was taken down in March after it was deemed structurally deficient during a review of the building's exterior. On March 15, two workers, suspended in a metal basket from a crane, were hoisted to the top of the building to take down the weather-aged vane, which maintenance worker …

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Abbot Hall Weather Vane Comes Down

The weather vane atop Abbot Hall was taken down with a crane early Thursday afternoon.

If you find yourself gazing up at Abbot Hall's signature belltower this spring, don't be surprised when you notice that the building's weather vane is missing. On Thursday afternoon, two workers, suspended in a metal basket from a crane, were hoisted to the top of the building to take down the weather-aged vane, which maintenance worker Steve Ware said had become "a real hazard." "There was a metal fitting that was holding it in place up there and it was catching water and wearing away," Ware said. "It just had to come down." Whether the vane will be refurbished or replaced altogether, Ware said, hasn't yet been determined. As for where town officials will be keeping it for the time being, all Ware could say was that "it's a secret."

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