Longtime Amesbury residents Nicholas J. and Cynthia Costello have been chosen to receive a Mass History Alliance STAR Award for their outstanding contributions to the research and interpretation of the history of their community.
“Thank you for your work for Massachusetts public and local history,” said MHA Vice President Eric Peterson. “As you know, the field would not exist without volunteers and people who do work over and above the call of duty. Your contributions to the history of your town and the Commonwealth are important.”
Nick Costello served as Amesbury’s selectman, state representative, state senator, and the very first Mayor of Amesbury. He has been a pioneer of open space acquisition, affordable housing, and economic development efforts.
In 1978, State Representative Costello filed the original legislation for the purchase of the Moseley Estate now known as the 400-acre Maudslay State Park. Costello’s vision was of a Passive Recreation Site combined with a Cultural Component open and accessible to the public.
In 1992, along with the late Edward Molin, and Jim Gaines, Nick founded Maudslay Arts Center (MAC), a popular cultural and entertainment destination. As the president and vice president of MAC, Nick and Cynthia have personally welcomed tens of thousands of patrons to this “mini Tanglewood.”
A self-proclaimed “John Greenleaf Whittier Enthusiast,” Cynthia has been very active in the Whittier Home Association for many years, including serving as the Association’s president.
The Whittier Home is a nationally known Historic House Museum, which inspires, enlightens, and educates people about the life, legacy, and literary works of John Greenleaf Whittier. The Museum honors his commitment to ending slavery, practicing his Quaker faith, and providing a courageous example of moral leadership for his community and the nation.
Nick and Cynthia are excellent examples of residents who have made long-term outstanding contributions to local and public history in Massachusetts.
“The former Baystate Historical League’s Local History Hero award was resurrected by the Massachusetts History Alliance in 2021 as the MHA Star Awards,” MHA wrote. “With this award, we honor members of the history field who have demonstrated long term commitment, outstanding work with concrete results, exemplary innovation, local leadership for change, or contributions to equity and justice.
“MHA Star Awards are granted to Massachusetts people who have made outstanding contributions to the research and interpretation of the history of their communities. We call them our local history heroes.”