Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1162395
HAS DON DOLIBER LIVED IN MARBLEHEAD ALL HIS LIFE? "Not yet!" he quips. Doliber's not finished with the bon mots, though. "I was born in an alley," he says. "Mary Alley Hospital." Jokes aside, being born in Mary Alley Hospital is a point of pride for many Marbleheaders of a certain age, since it means they were actually born in the town, which hasn't had a mater- nity ward in decades. But Doliber's Marblehead roots go much deeper than Mary Alley Hospital: His family has been in Marble- head since 1629. "By legend, they were the first European settlers in Marble- head," he says. And legends happen to be Doliber's specialty as town historian. Luckily, Marblehead's Historic District—which includes sites like the harbor front, Fort Sewall, King Hooper Mansion, and the Jeremiah Lee Mansion—is filled with them. "Every house has a story, every street has a story, and every person has a story, and Marblehead is a great place just to come and see it," he says. ere are legends of pirates and patriots, ghosts and grave- stones—some say you can still hear the otherworldly screams of the "Screeching Woman of Oakum Bay," who was said to be murdered by pirates, Doliber says. Stroll down Lee Street to Crocker Park, Tucker Street, and Washington Street to see some of the district's colonial archi- tecture and historical plaques marked with the "Sacred Cod," a symbol of hospitality that "reminds us that our living came from the ocean, that we made our money in salted cod," Doliber says. e architectural charm isn't the only reason to explore, though. Beth Ferris, executive director of the Marblehead Cham- ber of Commerce, points to the district's great shops, restau- rants, art studios, and friendly people. "ere are nice little treats around the corner everywhere you go," she says. History and Legend THE MARBLEHEAD HISTORIC DISTRICT OPEN SPACE Hiking, biking, camping, snowshoeing…you get the idea. Get into the woods and onto the trail at these fabulous spots: MARBLEHEAD NECK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, Marblehead RAVENSWOOD PARK, Gloucester POWOW RIVER CONSERVATION AREA, Amesbury GEORGETOWN-ROWLEY STATE FOREST, Rowley WEIR HILL, North Andover REEDY MEADOW, Lynnfield PINGREE RESERVATION, Hamilton Top to bottom, Marblehead has a rich historic housing stock; Don Doliber has deep roots in Marblehead; picturesque Marblehead Harbor and Fort Sewall. Ferris jokes that she's still considered a newcomer even though she's lived in town almost 30 years. But truly, you don't need to be a 10th-generation townie to be a true Marbleheader. "If you love Marblehead," Doliber says. "You're a Marbleheader." PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELISE SINAGRA 83