'Vital Piece Of Our American Story': $10K Donation Aids 'Save The Glover!' Efforts

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Efforts to save the Revolutionary War-era General John Glover Farmhouse from pending demolition got a recent boost with a $10,000 donation from The Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The donation comes as groups, including Save the Glove House! and the Swampscott Historical Commission, work to raise the estimated $1.5 million to $2 million that would be needed to perform renovations necessary to avoid demolition in June.

National Development proposed the renovation option as it looks to develop the property where the house resides into housing.

"The Glover House isn't just a building — it is a vital piece of our American story right here in our backyard," said Cabot Dodge, Noble Grand of Kearsarge Lodge #217, IOOF. "Our members voted unanimously to support this cause because we believe in honoring our history and ensuring that future generations of Swampscott residents can visit this site and feel a connection to our shared past."

The funds were pledged in honor of past member, Glover "Peter" B. Preble, adirect descendent of General Glover.

Swampscott Historical Commission Chair Nancy Schultz said Save the Glover! had raised about $500,000 toward the preservation efforts, including $14,000 through a GoFundMe page.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Odd Fellows for their generosity and leadership," said Connie
Carman of the Save the Glover! organization. "A gift of this magnitude provides the momentum
we need to reach our ultimate goals. It shows that the people of Swampscott are truly committed
to saving our history from being lost forever."

The Kearsarge Lodge #217 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a non-political and non-sectarian fraternal organization. They are dedicated to personal development and community service, providing support to local charities, scholarships, and historic preservation projects within the North Shore community.

The Save the Glover! campaign is a grassroots initiative dedicated to the restoration and
preservation of the General John Glover Farmhouse. Through community fundraising, education,
and advocacy, the group seeks to protect the final home of the man who famously led George
Washington’s crossing of the Delaware.

More information on the Save the Glover! efforts can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)