Marblehead Spirit Day, Sat, Sept 15 - Free Events at 5 Locations

Marblehead, Massachusetts — Fort Sewall and Abbot Hall’s lawn are among the historic sites that will be featured during the celebration of Marblehead Spirit Day 2018 on Saturday, September 15, a day-long free event with special presentations by speakers and a wide range of activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.

Crew members of USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) and the celebrated Glover’s Marblehead Regiment will honor Fort Sewall’s most famous historic role when, on April 3, 1814, the Fort provided “safe harbor” for “Old Ironsides” as the great ship was being chased by British frigates. Marbleheader Samuel H. Green piloted the ship along with a crew of many other Marbleheaders into their home port, navigating between Marblehead Rock and Marblehead Neck. Without charts of these rocky waters and facing the Fort’s cannon, the British retreated while thousands cheered on shore.

New for this year will be the Marblehead Spirit Day Children's Activities Tent on the Abbot Hall lower lawn, made possible through a generous grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Mass Cultural Council.

Starting at 10 a.m. will be Spirit Day Kids Fishing Derby, organized by well-known Marblehead art teacher Steve Pierce. With a special bamboo pole, catch a colorful fish and get a prize. Draw your favorite fish celebrating Marblehead's fishing history! Perfect for elementary school aged children.

From 11 a.m. to noon, during Tales of Marblehead (for ages over 11 years), Marblehead storyteller Judith Black tells tales that engender pride in our Town. In Old Town, meet characters from our settlement in 1692. See the shadow descending from Salem and learn a song about Cod.

In I Don't Know What That Means! You'll meet Patrick, the 7-year-old super hero from Marblehead, who saves the entire town from the BUNYYIP! As well as other stories.

Judith Black has been featured on stages from the Montreal Comedy Festival to the Smithsonian Institution to the Art Museum of Cape Town, South Africa. She has appeared 14 times at the National Storytelling Festival and is the winner of the Oracle Award, storytelling's most coveted laurel.

From 1-3 p.m., enjoy Musical PASTimes with Susanne Powers and Larry Young (for all ages).

This popular duo brings history closer to children through the use of music, interactive storytelling and period costumes. They perform with violin, viola, cittern and voice. Their audiences learn while participating and being entertained.

Larry Young received a music degree from Dartmouth College and studied violin at Longy School of Music and Berklee School of Music. Using intriguing and humorous facts and anecdotes, he presents what he calls "historical edu-tainment."

Dr. Susanna Powers, a native of Hamburg, Germany, started playing violin at age 10. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Juilliard and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has been featured with the Hamburg Philharmonic, the Catholic University Orchestra and others. She performs with and is the manager of the Cape Ann Symphony.

From 3-4 p.m. the Spirit Day Kid's Fishing Derby continues.

For more information, see: mass-culture.org or marbleheadculturalcouncil.org.

In all, Spirit Day will celebrate the history and traditions of Marblehead with a variety of speakers and activities at five locations: Abbot Hall, The Jeremiah Lee Mansion and J.O.J. Frost Gallery, The Old Town House and the G.A.R./Civil War Museum, Tucker’s Wharf, and Fort Sewall.

Start at any of the five featured locations to receive a free nametag, guidebook and map. The presentations will begin every hour on the hour, but everyone is invited to tour the locations at their own pace. A lunch break between noon and 1 p.m. will provide ample time to visit local eateries and businesses. Or plan to bring a picnic to enjoy at any of the sites.

Now in its second year, Town Historian Don Doliber and educational historic tour director Libby Moore have developed this event to give all generations a chance to share the splendor of Marblehead.

The historic sites and activities are free and open to the public. Free parking will be available at Marblehead High School, 2 Humphrey Street, with free bus transportation to and from Marblehead’s downtown historic area.

For more information about this Spirit Day, contact Libby Moore at 781-631-631-6733 or Don Doliber at 781-631-6938.

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