New Portrait Kicks Off Civic Center Centennial
On January 15, 2013, the Wakefield, Massachusetts building now known as the Americal Civic Center will turn 100 years old. Last night, it received an early birthday present. In ceremonies held last night in the Heritage Room, a new portrait of the historic building, painted by local artist Elizabeth O’Neill Lowry, was unveiled.
Cheryl Webb Scott, a founding member of the Americal Civic Center Board of Directors, said last night that the board is already planning events to celebrate the centennial of the former State Armory, including a lecture series on the building and other aspects of Wakefield history. They wanted to do something big to kick things off, Scott said, and the idea of commissioning a new portrait of the building seemed like just the right thing.
The board applied for and received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to cover the cost of the painting, the framing and last night’s reception. Scott credits Wakefield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kendall Inglese with helping to write the grant. The framing was done by Jeff Schilling of the Frame Shack on Salem Street.
Americal Board member Kate Stevens introduced Scott who handled the official unveiling. Lowry’s painting captures the rich architectural beauty of the building and the surrounding colorful spring foliage and bright blue sky.
Lowry said that she worked primarily from a series of photographs that she took last May and June, but she also visited the building a number of times in order to get a closer look at the building’s details. By taking photos from a variety of angles, Lowry explained, she was able to get an almost 3D image from which to paint.
Lowry is the owner of House Proud Portraits, where her primary business is creating commemorative portraits of homes. She described the process that she employs to create a portrait of a building. She first does a number of sketches and then a finished drawing. “Then I transfer the finished drawing to the board and paint it,” Lowry said.
Leo Couture, president of the Civic Center Board of Directors, said that for the centennial celebration the board really wants to share the history of the building. He said that the Americal Civic Center building is one of two or three former Armories in the state still in existence as an adaptive reuse.
“All the others have been sold or converted to other uses,” Couture said, citing one of Boston’s former Armory buildings, which is now a restaurant.
Wakefield’s State Armory was dedicated on January 15, 1913, replacing a wooden Armory across the street which had burned down 18 months earlier. The new Armory was a massive brick structure built like a fortress, with a unique columned Colonial façade. Massachusetts Governor Eugene N. Foss attended the dedication as did numerous military officers.
During World War I, members of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry departed from the Armory and in 1918, huge crowds lined the streets of the town and packed the Armory’s Drill Hall to welcome home from the war members of the Richardson Light Guard.
Over the years, the State Armory was home to a variety of military companies. In 1975, the town purchased the then Massachusetts National Guard Armory from the state for one dollar. On April 21, 1976, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy presided over ceremonies rededicating the old Armory as the Americal Civic Center.
A few years later, when costs of maintaining and operating the building became a burden on the town budget, the town considered selling the Armory. But group of local citizens stepped in and eventually Town Meeting approved turning management of the building over to a non-profit. The Americal Civic Center Association was incorporated in 1983 and undertook a massive building improvement program. In 1989 the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Last night’s festivities were hosted by members of the Americal Civic Center board. A generous spread of pastries and coffee were offered to members of the public in attendance.
[This story originally appeared in the August 23, 2012 Wakefield Daily Item.]
Filed under: Art, Columns & Essays, Feature stories, History, News, Profiles, Wakefield | Leave a Comment
Tags: Americal Civic Center, Armory, Art, artist, centennial, Elizabeth Lowry, House Proud Portraits, Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Armory, painting, State Armory, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts
Search this site
Categories
Flickr Photos
Archives
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Recent Comments
John Breithaupt on Civics lesson Mark Sardella on The longest year John Breithaupt on The longest year Paul Sullo on PARK GATES ONCE FRAMED EXCLUSI… John Breithaupt on Straw man Blog Stats
- 298,745 hits
LINKS
No Responses Yet to “New Portrait Kicks Off Civic Center Centennial”