2016 Lifetime Preservation Award recipients: 

Marty & Art Larson

Since arriving in 1967, Marty and Art have had a long association in preserving both North Andover’s historic landscape and its history through their work with the Historical Society and for town and civic committees.

Marty’s tenure as President of the Society encompassed many accomplishments including overseeing the relocation and preservation of the Bridges House and the Rokous barn; assuming ownership and stewardship of the Caroline Rogers building; and the publication of A Good In-Land Town. She prepared the National Register nominations for the Samuel Osgood House, Old Center Historic District and Machine Shop Village. She was an editor of the Cochichewick Chronicles, curator both at the Society and the Stevens-Coolidge Place, and is a long time Board member of the Society.

Marty’s extensive civic activities include serving on the North Andover Historic Commission, and the Bicentennial Committee where she chaired the Bicentennial Ball. She organized the campaign to preserve Osgood Hill and later served for almost 20 years on the Osgood Hill Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Old Center Historic District Committee and has been so since its inception. She spearheaded the Town Charter election and was later Vice Chair of the Charter Commission. She was notably an elected member of the North Andover Board of Selectman. Marty also served several terms as President of the League Women Voters, and as a Moderator for their debates.

Art was a member of the Society Board, and served for 15 years as a Stevens Memorial Library Trustee. He was Chair of the Library Building Committee, and a member of the Town Hall Historic Renovation Building Committee.

The Larsons’ most recent achievement was arranging the set of preservation restrictions on the Samuel Osgood House at 440 Osgood Street with Historic New England. North Andover now claims the highest number of such protected properties in Massachusetts.  

Both Marty and Art are “doers as well as leaders” in the continuing preservation of North Andover. We are very grateful for their decades of service.