When I am choosing a building to write about for these articles, I often ponder the question “What does it mean to be a historic building?”
I have pushed the limit of the word “building” many times by talking about neighborhoods and even rock formations. But this time, I want to explore what it means to be “historic.”
My first thought is that a historic building must be unique. Something interesting — whether that means good interesting or bad interesting — must have happened there. Or the building itself might be unique in its location or form.
I also think that the building should be old. This, however, is a relative criterion. A building constructed in 2004 might be younger than me in age, but it is still a 20-year-old building.
As the school year rapidly comes to a close, there will be many students who will soon consider the high school a historic building.
Some, like late state Rep. Doug Petersen, had proposed the idea of a regional high school for Marblehead, Swampscott, and Nahant students, as Swampscott was also considering plans for a new school. However, Marblehead residents eventually decided against the idea.
At a March 1999 Master Plan Committee meeting, the committee and its architectural firm presented two plans for new schools in town, each calling for a roughly $120 million investment. The town’s contribution in each plan was around $53 million, and the high school’s price tag was $43 million.
The Dec. 29, 1999 edition of The Daily Evening Item noted that Marblehead “voters overwhelmingly approved construction of a brand new $43 million high school on the Sevinor property and multi-purpose fields near the middle school” during Town Meeting.
The article also states that the Commonwealth paid 61% of the building’s costs, with the remaining $17.6 million being the town’s responsibility.
Construction of the Marblehead High School at 2 Humphrey St. began in 2001 after a decision to modernize the educational facilities in town.
In 2002, the building was completed. That very fall, the school opened for the 2002-03 school year.
The age of the school does not compete with the age of some of the buildings in Old Town. Nevertheless, the high school is steeped in memories. In just four years, so much can happen.
Best friendships are made and championships are won. People have their first kisses and their first heartbreaks. There are tests, proms, sports practices, and theatrical performances. For this year’s graduating class, there is the pandemic, which threw a wrench into students’ freshman year.
In these final weeks, I am certain more memories will be made. And then, as time ticks on and on, students will leave the halls of the high school for the last time. Then, the high school will be historic to them.
For each student, 2 Humphrey St. will mean something different. It might be bittersweet to leave, or it might feel liberating to finally be done with high school.
Has this building housed a Revolutionary War hero? Is it listed in the National Register of Historic Places? Is it a stunning example of a 19th-century revival architectural style?
No, no, and no.
But if you believe, like me, that history is the stories that we tell ourselves and the memories and emotions that shape the world around us, then I suppose Marblehead High School is a historic building after all.