The Daily News , By David Roberts, Dec. 6, 2011
AMESBURY — From this point on, those entering the John Greenleaf Whittier Home on Friend Street will be greeted by the piercing eyes of the beloved 19th-century poet who made Amesbury his home for much of his life.
Gus Reusch and Cynthia Costello at most recent Whittier Tea
Whittier’s powerful eyes are featured prominently on a century-old bust that was donated to the Amesbury Public Library by the high school Class of 1912. It had been kept in storage for 10 years, up until yesterday.
Around 2:30 p.m., Amesbury Public Library director Patty DiTullio and assistant director Erin Matlin wheeled the roughly 40-pound bust on a hand truck from the Main Street library to the poet’s home. Meeting them there were several members of the Whittier Home A
ssociation, who are charged with the preservation of the historic home.
Wrapped in protective blankets and secured with twine, the bust was lugged up the front steps by DiTullio and Matlin and brought into the house’s foyer. After carefully removing the protective layers, they placed the bust on a small table bedecked with Christmas greens. “We will have him welcoming everybody,” Whittier Home Association member Cynthia Costello said. Whittier moved to the Friend Street home in 1836, where he wrote his most famous poem, “Snow-Bound.” He lived in the home until his death in 1892. The home has since become a permanent memorial to his legacy.
The bust’s journey from the Amesbury Public Library to the Whittier Home took about eight months after DiTullio decided that it would be better off if displayed inside the Whittier Home, where generations of the influential poet’s admirers could appreciate it.
After being contacting about its discovery, Costello said she was about to pick it up and bring it the Whittier Home herself. But those plans were put to a halt when she was reminded that the bust belonged to the town and that the Whittier Ho
me Association had to go through official channels before it could be handed over.
After many months, the town, via Mayor Thatcher Kezer and chief financial officer Michael Basque arranged to have the bust permanently loaned to the association. As part of the process, the bust was appraised by local auctioneer John McInnis. Costello declined to comment when asked how much the bust was worth. The timing of the bust’s transfer couldn’t be better as far as the association is concerned, considering Whittier’s 204th birthday is Dec. 17. “We’re having a big party at (Ristorante) Molise, but we’re not bringing the bust,” Costello joked. “I’m just so excited to see him here.”
Also excited about the transfer was DiTullio, who said it made more sense to hand over the bust, rather than have it rest in a place where no one could see it. “We are glad that he’s finally somewhere he can be appreciated,” DiTullio said.
DiTullio said it’s likely the bust was placed in storage as the library was running out of space due to its increased use by Amesbury’s residents. DiTullio pointed out that for many years, the library was itself a museum of sorts with a full-fledged gallery upstairs.
On Sunday, the bust is likely to be seen by hundreds of people as the Whittier Home Association hosts a holiday open house around 3 p.m. For more information on the open house or the Whittier Home Museum, call 978-388-1337 or visit whittierhome.org.
