Renovation work on the Marion Town House is coming along as scheduled, with most construction set to be finished during the summer, and the Town House reopened sometime in August.
At the January 6 Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman gave an update on the status of the Town House. The current renovations were approved of by Marion residents at the Spring Town Meeting in May 2025, with work beginning in September and local government offices and functions moving to the Town House Annex at 14 Barnabas Road. The building will become Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, something long discussed within the town. Also in ADA compliance, there is to be a lift installed similar to the one in the new Maritime Center. The addition of fire-suppression and HVAC systems was also approved. Internal framing is largely completed, with Gorman telling The Wanderer, “We continue to move along the timeline with progress.”
The Town Administrator, at the same Select Board meeting, presented an idea to town officials and the public: a mural in the Town House. As he was giving his presentation on the status of construction on building that celebrates its 150th birthday this year, Gorman stated all work was on schedule and the build would be finished by the end of summer. He then put forth an idea, now finalized, that was approved by the board at that meeting.
The town is inviting local artists to submit mural concepts that will later be installed on an interior wall within the Town House. The town is open to submissions starting next week, on Monday, January 19 with the contest open until April 2 by town office closure, 4:30 pm. The town’s announcement states, “The mural will serve as a lasting symbol of community pride and creativity in the heart of Marion’s civic center.”
There are some stipulations with the allowed mural submissions: It is open to Marion residents aged 18 and older (individuals or teams), each artist may submit one original design concept, and designs must be appropriate for all audiences and must not contain political, commercial, or offensive content.
Starting Monday, artists should submit a digital rendering and concept statement with discussion on theme via email to the Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman at: ggorman@marionma.gov.
Following the closure of the submission process, the Select Board will then review submissions and select finalists to be voted upon by town residents. In May, a community survey will take place to determine the winner. The timeline for the Town House Mural Contest, as presented by the town, is as follows:
Contest Launch: Monday, January 19
Submission Deadline: Thursday, April 2 by 4:30 pm
Select Board Review: April (Date to be announced)
Community Survey & Final Selection: May (Date to be announced)
Mural Installation Period: August (Date to be announced)
By Sam Bishop