We live in a unique and historic town – it’s places, structures, people and stories tell the history of New England in a microcosm.
Our mission is to identify, preserve and protect Marblehead’s historical assets – it’s places, artifacts and stories, while making these accessible to all. We want to educate the public about and publicize Marblehead’s proud history. We also want to work with other organizations to help achieve our mission. Finally, we fulfill our legally required obligations per Mass. General Laws Chapter 40, Section 8d by working with the state Historical Commission and State Archeologist.
The Marblehead Historical Commission was established in 1964. The Commission consists of a seven-member board that is appointed by the Select Board for staggered three-year terms.
When We Meet:
The Historical Commission meets on the second floor of Abbot Hall, generally on the third or fourth Wednesday of each month, except in December. The Historical Commission staff is available by appointment or chance to assist researchers on the history of Marblehead or Marbleheaders.
Research & Preservation Resources:
The Historical Commission maintains a bookshelf of resource materials on caring for and preserving various kinds of historical materials (eg. photos). These are available for town residents to use. Come to the Historical Commission offices on the second floor of Abbot Hall to review and/or use any of these reference materials.
Historical Commission Website and Online Archives:
Visit the Historical Commission website at www.marbleheadhistory.org for information about us, the town, Abbot Hall, our museums and to search our extensive archives.
Abbot Hall Museum:
The Commission maintains the Maritime Museum, the museum cases in Abbot Hall, and a Gift Shop that is staffed by volunteers. The Museum and Gift Shop are open seasonally, generally from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Contact the Historical Commission for more information.
Historical Preservation:
One of the duties of the Historical Commission is preservation of the historical assets of the town. This includes the historic areas, structures and buildings of our town. A key element of historic preservation is an inventory of the town’s historic assets. Until now, the only inventories have been conducted primarily in the historic downtown area. No inventories have been conducted in most of the remainder of the town, although many of these other neighborhoods contain historically important areas and buildings.
The Historical Commission has created a Master Plan for Historical Preservation Surveys of the entire town. This was funded by the Commission, along with a matching grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The plan lays out a phased and prioritized plan to inventory the entire town for historical resources.
Historical Markers:
The responsibility of the Commission includes researching all places in town of historic value and to maintain an inventory of all historical markers. From time to time the Commission may place historical markers or signs at locations of historical significance
Historic District:
The Historical Commission has limited oversight over an area of Marblehead designated by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Department of the Interior as being on the National Register of Historic Districts. The National Register Historic District is one of the largest contiguous colonial districts to be placed on National Register, the nation’s official list of important sites and structures that preserves local, state, and national heritage. It was established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to provide eligible property owners with some federal tax benefits and federal grants for approved historic preservation. The Old & Historic Districts Commission has direct oversight of the Old and Historic District of Marblehead, distinct from the National Register Historic District.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are always welcome and can assist with archival work, historic preservation planning, work in the Gift Shop or become docents for the Maritime Museum. Contact the Historical Commission for more information.
Donate Artifacts
The Commission may accept donated artifacts on behalf of the Town, many of which are displayed in Abbot Hall. With the consent of the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting, it may acquire properties.
Captain William D. Gregory in the Civil War
This is an excerpt from a news clipping found in an old scrapbook. In this clipping, which gives the history of the house at 16 South Street, there is a story of the Civil War exploits of one of its owners, Capt. William D. Gregory.
Capt. Gregory cruised for several months in Mississippi sound capturing prizes and effectively putting an end to blockaded running in that vicinity. He continued in command of the Bohio until midsummer 1862 when he resigned and retired from the service. The Marblehead sailors on board the Bohio were distinguished at all times for their daring and bravery.”
“Early in the autumn of 1861 Capt. William D. Gregory and his brother Capt. Samuel B. Gregory enlisted in the U. S. navy and were assigned to duty on board the gunboat E. B. Hale then in New York harbor. While getting ready for sea and daily expecting sailing orders, they were summarily dismissed from the service. An investigation proved that a few of their personal enemies in Marblehead had preferred Charges of Disloyalty against them to the Secretary of the Navy. Upon ascertaining the origin of these charges, the brothers at once returned to Marblehead. Shortly after their arrival in town, a large and enthusiastic meeting of citizens, irrespective of party, was held in Lyceum hall and resolutions were adopted severely condemning the actions of those who had preferred the charges and expressing the confidence of the people in the integrity and loyalty of the officers. Armed with the record of this meeting and with a petition signed by nearly every legal voter in Marblehead, the brothers proceeded to Washington and were at once reinstated in the service. Their commissions were dated Oct 3, 1861. Capt. Samuel B. Gregory being assigned to command of the United States steamer Western World and Capt. William D Gregory to the United States ship Bohio.
Both vessels had several Marblehead sailors on board. They sailed from New York harbor on the first day of January, 1862. On the seventh of February, while cruising off the coast of Louisiana, Capt. William D. Gregory discovered a schooner sailing under British flag. He immediately gave chase and on overtaking the stranger, found her to be the Confederate Eugenie Smith, bound from Havana to Matamoras, with a valuable cargo of coffee, soap, dry goods and other articles. She was put in charge of a prize master and sent to the United States district court at Key West, Fla. The officers and crew were placed on board the United States steamer Rhode Island as prisoners of war. Immediately after forwarding his prize to the proper authorities, Capt. Gregory sailed for the Southwest Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi River, where he arrived in the afternoon of Friday, March 7. On his arrival, he was informed that the captain of a United States ship, which arrived the day before, had fallen in with and boarded a suspicious looking schooner sailing under an English flag and register, but after an examination of her papers had allowed her to proceed on her voyage. Ascertaining the latitude and longitude in which the strange schooner had been seen, Capt. Gregory obtained permission to cruise for her and at 11 P. M. the Bohio was under way.
At 5 o’clock the next morning a sail was discovered on the lee bow. All drawing sails were at once set on board the Bohio and the captain gave directions to keep off for the stranger. Noticing that he was being pursued, the commander of the strange vessel set all sails and an exciting chase ensued. The stranger proved to be a fast sailer and it was with difficulty that the Bohio kept up with her. At 8 A. M. a shot was fired from the Bohio with no effect. At noon, finding that the stranger was steadily outsailing him, Capt. Gregory resolved to capture her if possible by stratagem. Several barrels were placed upon the deck and upon these about 12 feet of stovepipe were fastened for a smokestack.
The precaution having been taken to place sand in the bottom of the lower barrel, a fire was started with bits of rope, old junk and other materials and in a short time the smoke began to pour out of the funnel in fine style. The men were constantly employed in wetting the sails and as the wind filled them and the speed of the ship increased, the stratagem had the desired effect. The schooner hove to at about 2 P. M. and surrendered. She proved to be the Confederate schooner Henry Travers of New Orleans sailing under British register. The captain of the schooner stated that when he perceived the Bohio getting up steam, as he supposed, and saw how fast she was gaining on him, he considered it useless to try to outsail a steamship. He therefore held a consultation with his officers and was advised by his mate to surrender, as the Yankee would certainly blow the schooner out of the water after chasing her so far.