Members of the Haverhill Citizens Hall of Fame took part in readings inducting William Smith Shaw. From left to right are Hall of Fame President Paul Bevilacqua, Peter Carbone, Kaleigh Pare, Joanne Sullivan and Massachusetts Historical Society’s Hobson Woodward. (WHAV News photograph.)
The Haverhill Citizens Hall of Fame inducted its 37th and 38th honorees Saturday afternoon at Haverhill Public Library.
Famous Haverhillites of the past inducted were Arthur Harrison Cole, economic historian and library administrator at Harvard, and William Smith Shaw, a founding member, secretary and librarian of the Boston Athenæum. In a departure from past ceremonies, Massachusetts Historical Society’s Hobson Woodward staged a series of historical readings, illustrating Shaw’s place in history. Buttonwoods Museum’s Kaleigh Pare played first lady Abigail Adams, Shaw’s aunt.
“I fear you could not do the president much service. I am anxious for you. If you do right, everything will, I trust, be favorable, but if wrong, you must expect your life will be lost, involved and shallowed.”
Massachusetts Historical Society’s Hobson Woodward. (WHAV News photograph.)
Woodward, associate editor for production of the Adams Papers, narrated three episodes in Haverhill history, as told by members of the Adams family. Local businessman Peter Carbone couldn’t help but reflect on current presidential politics as he read a letter from Shaw.
“I believe the grand cause of all our present difficulties may be traced to this source: to so many hordes of foreigners, immigrating to America,” Carbone read from a Shaw letter. Then, ad libbing to audience applause, Carbone added, “We must build a wall. No, wait a minute. strike that last line.”
97.9 WHAV will broadcast the complete Haverhill Citizens Hall of Fame ceremony tonight at 8:30 following the Open Mike Show.
In order of induction, the Haverhill Citizens Hall of Fame has previously honored the following:
- John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
- Hannah Emerson Dustin (1657-1732)
- Frank Howard Lahey (1880-1953)
- William H. Moody (1853-1917)
- Thomas S. Sanders (1839-1911)
- James Brickett (1738-1818)
- Louis B. Mayer (1885-1957)
- Bailey Bartlett (1750-1830)
- James U. Crockett (1915-1979)
- Bob Montana (1920-1975)
- John C. Chase (1870-1937)
- William Francis Bartlett (1840-1876)
- Stuart Chase (1888-1985)
- Rowland H. Macy (1822-1919)
- Ann Haseltine Judson (1789-1826)
- Frankie Fontaine (1920-1978)
- Daniel Appleton (1785-1849)
- Winfield Townley Scott (1910-1968)
- Nathaniel Saltonstall (1639-1707)
- Benjamin Greenleaf (1786-1864)
- James R. Nichols (1819-1888)
- Enoch Bartlett (1779-1860)
- Muriel Sanders Draper (1886-1952)
- Louis Alter (1902-1980)
- Donald J. Atwood (1924-1993)
- Gladys Emerson Cook (1895-1975)
- Joseph C. Goyette (1884-1969)
- Gert Swazey (Wilson) (1855-1934)
- Dudley Eaton Fitts (1903-1968)
- Cora Chase (1892-1984)
- John A. Bellairs (1938-1991)
- Andre Dubus (1937-1999)
- Raymond Tye (1923-2010)
- Ezekiel J.M. Hale (1813-1881)
- Louis H. Hamel (1898-1975)
- John Bradford Davis, Jr. (1921-2011)
Who are the other Haverhill Hall of Famer?
Thanks for asking. The names of previous inductees have been added to the story.