Marblehead Students Raise $2K For John Glover Farmhouse Preservation In Swampscott

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Students at Glover Elementary School turned a classroom lesson on colonial life into a fundraiser that brought in $1,000 for preservation of the historic John Glover Farmhouse in Swampscott.

The "Colonial Chores Challenge" began May 18 and involved kindergarten through third-grade students completing age-appropriate chores at home inspired by the daily responsibilities of children in 1776.

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Students brought in coins earned from the chores, and third graders, led by student Logan Perlow, handled the collection and counting. The campaign goal was $1,000, with Swampscott resident Charlie Patsios pledging to match every dollar raised.

The fundraiser supported the John Glover Farmhouse at 299 Salem Street in Swampscott. The project was designed to raise both awareness and money for the preservation effort while connecting students to local history through hands-on work.

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"As the teacher who helped lead the Colonial Chore Challenge, I could not be more proud of our third-grade students," Glover School teacher Sally Shevory said. "What began as a history lesson about the responsibilities of colonial children grew into a meaningful community service project that connected students to Marblehead's rich history while teaching the value of hard work, generosity, and civic responsibility."

She noted that students cleaned their homes, helped in gardens, cared for pets and organized lemonade stands as part of the effort. Those activities helped raise the $1,000 total for the farmhouse preservation campaign.

"Most importantly," Shevory said, "they learned that even young people can make a real difference in their community. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to preserving local history have been truly inspiring, and this project serves as a wonderful example of how hands-on learning can bring history to life."

The students are scheduled to mark the project with a public ceremony on Monday at 10:15 a.m. The third graders will march up Maple Street to Gatchell's Green, where they are expected to share what they learned about General John Glover, colonial family life and their fundraising work.

The event will include appearances by George Washington and a member of Glover's Regiment, who will accept a check made out to Save the Glover.