Bailey’s Hill Gazebo
Renamed “Sears Pavilion”
It was the best kept secret in town and a major surprise to Calantha! After the ribbon cutting on the gazebo September 24, 2005 by Calantha Sears, outgoing president of the Nahant Woman’s Club, and Robert “Skip” Frary, chairman of the Nahant Board of Selectmen, Calantha made the following remarks:
“It is said that it takes a village to raise a child ….
I think it has taken a village to raise this beautiful gazebo ….
And so as I help Skip cut the ribbon to re-dedicate this
handsome structure, I do so in the name of those “villagers”
who played such a vital part in the fabric of our community
in the past ….
As well as all the “villagers” of today who have been so
helpful and supportive in giving their time, talents,
enthusiasm … and moneys, too, to make this remarkable
and historic event come to pass.
And last, but never least, it is gratifying to act on behalf of
the young people of the community – our youngest “villagers” –
who will, we hope, use, take pride in, take care of, and
thoroughly enjoy this addition to Bailey’s Hill Park … and our
town … not only today but far into the future.”
At this moment, Skip Frary announced the decision of the Board of Selectmen to rename the gazebo the “Sears Pavilion at Bailey’s Hill Park” in honor of Calantha’s outstanding public service and contributions to the Town of Nahant. A fitting tribute to the “First Lady of Nahant” who spearheaded the campaign to rebuild the gazebo!
Thanks to Our Village...
The rededication of the Sears Pavilion at Bailey’s Hill Park was a team effort of the Nahant Woman’s Club, celebrating its 110th anniversary. The citizens of the Town of Nahant joined in to make the event a success, from the Nahant Board of Selectmen to the Nahant Boy Scout Color Guard with Igor Babushkin, John Blank, Alex Calloggero, Ted Maroney, and Alec Roy, who led attendees in the pledge of allegiance.
State Senator Thomas M. McGee, State Representative Steven M. Walsh, and President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Massachusetts Martha E. Scarsdale were honorary guests and presented Calantha and the Nahant Woman’s Club with citations.
Over 110 entries were received in the Children’s Art Contest entitled “What I Like To Do Best in Nahant, thanks to the enthusiastic support of Johnson School art school teacher Susan Beebe. First through third prize winners all received a $50 US Savings Bond, a tradition started in 1976 when the original gazebo was dedicated. First prize winners also received a gift certificate to School of Refrigerator Door Art donated by Carol Hanson. The winning entries will be on display at the Nahant Public Library until February of 2006.
The entries were judged by three Nahant artists: Carol Hanson, Carolyn Jundzillo-Comer, and Norman LaLiberte. The awards, announced by Calantha Sears, went to:
First Prizes
Colleen Osbahr, “Short Beach” – 4 yrs
Kiana Burke Monsanto, “Sunset in Nahant” – 9 yrs
Meghan Toomajian, “Tudor Beach” – 12 yrs
Second Prizes
Ryan Gooding, “Artists in Nahant” – 6 yrs
Emily Fiore “With My Friends” – 9.5 yrs
Lindsay Marini, “Town Hall with Map” – 11 yrs
Third Prizes
Shawn Rowe, “The Wharf” – 7 yrs
Jenny Mo, “Tennis in Nahant” – 9 yrs
Aristana Scourtas “A View of East Point” – 11 yrs
Honorable Mention
Pre-K through 2nd Grade
Kate Cook, “Me Catching A Butterfly” – 5 yrs
Rose Callahan, “Dancing” – 5 yrs
Aaron Morad, “Soap Box Derby” – 7 yrs
Samantha Blank, “Fireworks” – 7 yrs
Maisie Vasquez “Rainbow in Nahant” – 6 yrs
Third through 5th Grade
Casey Walton “Library” – 8 yrs
Hanna McBryde “Hermit Crab at Short Beach” – age 9
Anthony Rizzo, “Shipwreck” – 8 yrs
Emma Bartholomew, “The Day I was at the Wharf” – 9 yrs
Olivia Aswad “Having Fun After Sailing” – 8 yrs
Fifth Grade and Up
Mary Sampson, “Coast Guard” – 11 yrs
Peter Klee, “Sailing” – 11 yrs
Alex M. “Sail/Egg Rock”
Misha Zhykov, “Library” – 10 yrs
Caroline D.
Many contributed to make this event at Bailey’s Hill Park a success. Special thanks go to Susan Beebe, Katie Bishop and her family, Angela Bonin, Brown and Brown, Shawn Canty, Frank Clements, Darlene and Richard Conigliaro of Kelley Greens, Mark Cullinan, Carolyn Cummings-Saxton, Frank and Cay Cusack, Architect John Falat, Skip and Kellie Frary, Michael Georges, Harold “Bumper” Gooding, Michael Gray, Carol Hanson and her son Aaron, Adam Hatfield, Donna Hanlon, Carl and Linda Jenkins, and Linda’s son David, Carolyn Jundzillo-Comer, Norman LaLiberte, Eleanor and John Lowell, John Magro, Sheridan and Timothy Maguire, Nahant Associates, Nahant Department of Public Works, Nahant Garden Club, Oceanview, Sis Oliver, John and Jeffrey Paula of JP Construction, Maurice Poulin, PS Films, Inc., Octavia Randolph, Chris and Nina Rogers, Larry Scaglione, School of Refrigerator Door Art, Calantha Sears, Carter Smith, Tides Restaurant, Trader Joe’s, Maria Welsh, Nancy Whitman, David Wilson, Paul Wilson, Robert Wilson, the Nahant Woman’s Club and the committee that planned this event, and several anonymous donors. The Nahant Woman’s Club also thanks its incoming president, Marrit Hastings, and her husband Cal Hastings, always willing to help as needed.
The 110th anniversary of the founding of the Nahant Woman’s Club coincided with the rededication of the gazebo. Several past presidents of the NWC attended the event and participate in the cake cutting ceremony: Penny Billias (1972-74, 1988-90 and State President 1984-86), Carolyn Cummings-Saxton (1996-2000), Charlotte Dracousis (1990-92 and as District Director), Helen Golding Niosi (1957-59), Norma K. Poole (1962-64), Calantha Sears (1968-70 and 2002-05), and Gloria M. O’Shea (1979-81). The cake was a work of art created by Roz Puleo.
A permanent plaque will be placed on the Sears Pavilion at Bailey’s Hill, and contributions for the plaque will be gratefully accepted by the Nahant Woman’s Club.
A permanent plaque will be placed on the Sears Pavilion at Bailey’s Hill, and contributions for the plaque will be gratefully accepted by the Nahant Woman’s Club
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Bailey’s Hill Gazebo
Rededication September 24
A town-wide celebration of the rededication of the the Bailey's Hill Gazebo was on Saturday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The original dedication, in the Bicentennial Year of 1976, drew a crowd of 300 people in spite of strong winds and rain.
The rededication is sponsored by the Town of Nahant and the Nahant Woman’s Club. Official ceremonies for the rebuilt gazebo began at 11 a.m., with festivities, music, food, period costumes, and the children’s art exhibit continuing throughout the event.
Robert “Skip” Frary, Chairman of the Nahant Board of Selectmen, cut the ribbon on the newly reconstructed Bailey’s Hill Gazebo. Calantha Sears participated in the opening ceremony as outgoing president of the Nahant Woman’s Club. During her tenure, Calantha spearheaded three years of fundraising activities and organizational work necessary to make the Bailey’s Hill Gazebo project come to fruition.
Musical Events
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Alex Moccia of Nahant sang God Bless America. Other musicians who entertained at the rededication included the Tony Barrie Band and the Village Voice Barber Shop Quartet. To complete the program, Baritone Don Wilkinson, a resident of Nahant, sange Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs.
Children’s Art Exhibit and Contest
An important part of the day was the children’s art show and contest. Winners received United States Savings Bonds, a tradition carried over from the Bicentennial children’s art exhibit. First place winners also received a gift certificate to School of Refrigerator Art classes by Carol Hanson.
All children under 13 years old who live in Nahant were invited to submit art works. The judging, by well-known local artists Norman LaLiberté, Carolyn Jundzilo-Comer, and Carol Hanson, was according to three age groups, with first prize winners and other awards in each group.
The theme of the contest is “What I Like to Do Best in Nahant.” Historic documents indicate that Skip Frary, now the Town of Nahant’s primary Selectman, was one of the Boy Scouts who ushered at the 1976 ceremony.
Festivities for Families
Families could have their portraits taken in vintage bathing suits, courtesy of the Vintage Bather cutouts on loan from Carol Hanson, director of the School of Refrigerator Art. Robert and Paul Wilson were photographing the take-home photos. Games included “Hoops and Sticks,” “Boot Throw,” and other historic games played in a simpler era. Period costumes was be worn by the Bishop family.
Maurice Poulin exhibited his boats in a bottle and Frank Clements displayed some of his boat models. A silent auction included works of art, and other items donated by Nahant professionals and businesses. Limited edition memorabilia was be on sale to commemorate the day.
Pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and other refreshments were available for purchase.
Special thanks go to Kelley Greens for donating the pizza and to Larry Scaglione for donating hot dogs that were sold pro bono by Shawn Canty from his old-fashioned hot dog truck.
Town-Wide Participation
Others who deserve special recognition for participation include the Nahant Board of Selectmen for their unfailing support and Town Administrator Mark Cullinan for his invaluable help in making this restoration possible. Architect John Falat of Nahant donated his time and expertise in designing the new, improved Bailey's Hill Gazebo, and Karen Falat worked steadfastly to move the project forward to the successful unveiling on September 24. Nahanter John Paula of JP Construction lowered the price of building the Gazebo by $1,000 and donated 50 hours of labor to the restoration.
The Nahant Garden Club, which also participated in the 1976 Bailey’s Hill Park work, will do plantings and beautification for the 2005 event. The Nahant Department of Public Works will mow, trim and prepare the park for the festivities.
Members of the Nahant Woman’s Club under leadership of Calantha Sears worked energetically to raise funds for both the reconstruction and the rededication. Marrit Hastings, current president, and Linda Jenkins, vice-president, together with the Nahant Woman's Club Board, have been major organizers of the rededication.
The Gazebo celebration is also in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the Nahant Woman’s Club. The Woman’s Club was instrumental in working towards building the original Gazebo.
Special thanks go to the many residents and businesses who offered support and donations of time and funds for the rebuilding of the Gazebo and the rededication. A list of contributors to date and further information on the festival are included in the Gazebo insert in this issue of the Harbor Review. Please bring along your program on September 24th so you don’t miss a single event!
Historic Notes: Fort Ruckman
Bailey’s Hill, under the name of Fort Ruckman, was a military installation from 1900 to 1961. In 1948 the Fort was sold to the Town of Nahant, then promptly leased back by the Army, which closed the underground fortifications and constructed a series of barracks. When the area was returned permanently to the Town in 1961, Nahant was left with “piles of masonry and concrete rubble, open excavations and manholes, forlorn chimneys, wireless utility poles, rusting chain link fence, and, because of the dangerous rubble, a ‘No Trespassing’ sign,” according to a Nahant Woman’s Club report in 1976.
The Nahant Woman’s Club decided to make Fort Ruckman its number one conservation project. A Fort Ruckman Committee was formed, consisting of representatives from the Nahant Conservation Commission, Nahant Woman?s Club, Nahant Garden Club, Nahant Recreation Commission, and concerned abutters.
Volunteers, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, helped clean up the area, but the help of the Nahant Department of Public Works and a professional demolition team was necessary to remove and bury hazardous debris and fill excavations.
In October, 1975, Nahant was awarded a grant to implement construction of the original Bailey’s Hill Gazebo and beautify the Park. The gazebo was ready for dedication in June, 1976. By 2005, after almost 30 years, time and weather had taken its toll, so it was necessary not just to repair but to rebuild the Bailey’s Hill Gazebo. There were two gazebos in the Relay Yard in the early 1900’s during the heyday of the Bass Point Amusement Park, but these gazebos were long gone when plans were made to construct the 1976 gazebo at Bailey’s Hill.
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