Bell Tower gets massive makeover
Festival of Trees funds $98,000 historic project
By Darrell Halen
MethuenLife Writer
A historic bell tower located on the grounds of Presentation of Mary Academy, built by the wealthy philanthropist Edward F. Searles in 1895, is getting a new lease on life – thanks to the financial support of a local organization dedicated to historic preservation and renovation.
Extensive carpentry and masonry repair is being done to the stone chime tower which stands about 100 feet tall. The entire project costs $98,000 and is the most expensive undertaking of the Methuen Festival of Trees Inc.
“To be able to restore it to its original – hopefully – splendor, is just a remarkable feat,” said Maureen Pollard, the group’s president.
According to the school, the tower contained a set of tubular bells. Searles had owned the United States Tubular Bell Company.
On the tower, near its base, is a bronze “Attending Angel,” and below the angel are two marble lions – one is guarding while the other is sleeping. A marble statue of “Christ with a Child” watched over the angel and used to stand inside the doorway, according to the school.
The carpentry work involves repair of roof framing, stairs and floors, installation of new doors and windows, and new roofing and flashing.
The masonry work includes restoring the top of the tower structurally by chipping out old mortar and repointing it with new mortar, repointing stones with new mortar, cleaning the inside of the tower, and power washing the tower with restoration cleaner.
The project is being overseen by Angelo Petrozzelli of Design Partnership Architects of Haverhill. The work is being done mainly by two companies: Todd Michel Construction and Design, and Logan Masonry and Restoration Work of East Boston.
Petrozelli is no stranger to local historic preservation efforts. He likes to preserve buildings and he’s been responsible for restoration work at the First Baptist Church on Lawrence Street, the fire department’s Railroad Square Station (commonly known as the Central Fire Station), Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and the First Church Congregational UCC on Pleasant Street.
“He’s very historic minded so we feel very comfortable with him,” said Pollard. “We know he’s going to do a correct and accurate job.”
The academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory high school for girls situated on the 22 acres that was formerly known as the Edward F. Searles Estate. The Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary founded the school in 1958.
“My daughters went to school there and fell in love with the place,” said Petrozzelli who used to serve on the academy’s board of directors.
Visitors who toured the school grounds used to be able to go into the tower until the structure was determined to be unsafe and custodians locked the doors.
“It was a lookout tower,” said Sister Joan St. Laurent who is delighted the restoration work is being done. “You could see the surrounding towns very well. It was beautiful.”
The expense of repairing the tower is a cost too high for the school to afford, so the sisters appreciate that the Festival of Trees organization is funding the work.
“We were very grateful to the Friends of the Trees for their interest in this historic property,” said Sister Cecile Plasse, the provincial. “It’s very worthwhile to us and to the town. It’s quite extensive. It was in need of great repair.”
To date, the non-profit all-volunteer organization has spent more than $800,000 to restore monuments, walls, and sites in and around in Methuen. Their big fund-raiser is the Festival of Trees, an annual event that displays more than 200 decorated Christmas trees donated by individuals, organizations, school groups and businesses.
Festival-goers purchase raffle tickets to win trees, and the fund-raiser also features events for kids, a gift shop and an auction. Last year’s festival drew approximately 25,000 visitors.
Other projects funded by the organization include restoration of the Tenney Gatehouse, repair of historic stone walls, restorative work at the Old Village Burial Ground on Lawrence Street, and the repair of a large section of wall surrounding Caritas Holy Family Hospital.
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