The Fort Sewall Oversight Committee discussed landscaping work that needs to be considered at its meeting.
Members of the committee said there are five trees that need to be replaced, and the best time to do so would be in the fall.
Committee members also mentioned that a donor has expressed interest in paying for a larger tree. The fort’s two memorial trees are doing well. The committee is looking to have a volunteer day at some point in September to clean up weeds at the fort.
The Fort Sewall Oversight Committee is appointed by the Select Board to develop and update a master plan for the restoration of Fort Sewall and to oversee the fort’s continued restoration project.
The Fort Ranger program is also now underway. A ranger is at the fort from noon to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday until Labor Day and offers informal tours.
“The fort had over 1,600 visitors in the last two weeks,” Committee member Larry Sands said.
The committee also discussed a new bench that was donated and where it will be permanently located. The slab was made from a tree that was at the fort.
In other news, the fort has two new additions, a Spanish cannon and USS Constitution bowsprit.
The cannon is of importance as it is the original, cast in Seville, Spain in 1803. It was captured and taken by Marbleheaders during the War of 1812. There was discussion about moving it permanently to be near the other existing cannon at the fort and providing interpretive signage to explain its significance. The committee will also need a proper winterized covering for the Spanish cannon.
The USS Constitution bowsprit is currently housed at Abbot Hall and needs to be moved to the fort. This is an important feature for the fort as the Constitution took refuge in Marblehead Harbor under the safety of the fort’s cannon on April 3, 1814, during the three-year War of 1812, when the fort was garrisoned by U.S. government forces.
A couple of committee-member positions have become available and the committee discussed the search for new members. A disabilities representative is needed, and members suggested that a historical-commission representative could be a good addition.