By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board this week accepted with thanks an anonymous donation of $1,500 toward the cost of restoring the Fort Revere water tower, with a condition that if the work does not begin before September 11, 2026, the money will be donated to Hull’s Council on Aging, 

“Either way, this is a really nice donation,” Chair Greg Grey said.

In the meantime, the town received a donation of paint “through Benjamin Moore and Hingham Lumber to perform restorative work” at Fort Revere at a date to be announced, according to Town Manager Jennifer Constable.

The town is looking for volunteers to help with the work. The project will be coordinated by select board member Jason McCann, contingent on Department of Conservation and Recreation approval.

The town owns the tower and some of the bunkers, and the DCR, others. This is because the site was sold off by the federal government after World War II and acquired by the town and state in stages as the individual private owners agreed to sell.

“The fort is a patchwork of ownership between DCR and the town,” Constable said.

During a recent visit to Fort Revere with Hull officials, new DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo agreed with Constable’s comment that “the site speaks for itself” with regard to its deteriorated condition.

Arrigo also acknowledged the need for discussion about safety and security at the site when a town official pointed out those issues.

McCann suggested a Fort Revere committee, which Grey said would be considered, adding, “It’s long overdue.”

Voters at the Aug. 31 special town meeting defeated, 219-169, a warrant article requesting approval to appropriate roughly $600,000 or more to cover the increased cost of restoring the water tower beyond the 2022 town meeting appropriation of $2.2 million. A two-thirds majority among the more than 400 voters was required for the article to pass.

Before the vote, Director of Community Development & Planning Chris DiIorio was asked what would happen to the $2.2 million earlier appropriation if the article didn’t pass. His response was that the funding would remain in place “and we could look at how we might change the scope of the project and then go out to bid again.”

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