Editor’s Note: Additional information and a clarification was added to this story after initial publication.
A coach and world-class marathoner, a pioneering African-American entrepreneur and a philanthropist, educator and abolitionist last week became the latest additions to Haverhill’s downtown walk of fame.
The Rotary Club of Haverhill Thursday dedicated plaques along the Rep. Brian S. Dempsey Boardwalk to Anthony “Tony” Sapienza for his contributions to sports and education; William “Professor Bill” Mobley for his work shaping the city’s economic landscape; and Dr. George S. Cogswell, prominent physician, philanthropist, educator, abolitionist and civic leader.
Creative Haverhill’s Danielle Kravetz Smida detailed contributions by Cogswell, who lived from 1808 to 1901.
“In public service, he was appointed by President Lincoln as a collector of the Internal Revenue for the sixth district of Massachusetts, a role he was appointed to again by President Grant in 1870. His work in this role was crucial in raising funds for the Civil War,” she said.
Smida went on to say point out Cogswell’s work in business and education. “He held trusted positions such as the president of the Union Bank in Haverhill, vice president at Haverhill Savings Bank and railroad president. He was always deeply interested in educational matters and gave some of his best service to the management of schools. He was a longtime trustee of Atkinson Academy and the Peabody Academy of Science, but he’s fondly remembered as the godfather of Bradford College and served the board for nearly 50 years, instrumental in building the Academy Hall.”
Creative Haverhill is in the process of redeveloping the former George Cogswell School, named for the honoree and dedicated in 1891, into a community arts center.
Rotary Club President Melissa deFriesse served as master of ceremonies. She introduced Arthur H. Veasey III who read the background of Mobley, who lived from 1873 to 1948. In attendance were Mobley’s great granddaughter Nichole Martin Reimer and her husband. Haverhill Rotary Club Past President Timothy J. Jordan read the description for Sapienza, who lived from 1929 to 1987.
The Walk of Fame is the brainchild of Sally L. Cerasuolo-O’Rorke. Plaques were donated, created and installed by Rick Atwood of Atwood Memorial.
Other plaques honor Hanna Duston, colonist and acclaimed heroin; John Greenleaf Whittier, poet and abolitionist; William H. Moody, associate justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, U. S. attorney general and secretary of the Navy; Dr. Frank Howard Lahey, founder of the Lahey Clinic; Bob Montana, creator of Archie Comics; Donald Atwood, vice chairman of General Motors and secretary of the U. S. Department of Defense; Cora Chase, a soprano for the Metropolitan Opera Company; and Russ Conway, a journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist for his stories that helped expose corruption in National Hockey League Players Association, bringing down union head Alan Eagleson.