At the Selectpersons Meeting on Monday evening, The Ipswich Historical Commission presented the 2017 Mary Conley Award to Paul and Cathleen McGinley. Photo courtesy of The Local News.
In 1966, Paul and Cathleen purchased the Phillip Call house at 26 High Street, where they raised their family. After uncovering and preserving First Period elements dating to 1659, they were the first of a dozen owners of historic houses in Ipswich to adopt preservation agreements, about which the book “Something to Preserve” is written.
Paul began his career with the Boston and Newburyport Redevelopment Authorities. He founded McGinley Kalsow & Associates, an architectural and planning firm that has received over 100 awards for the restoration of historic buildings and structures.
Among Paul’s contributions to the town:
- He served on the Ipswich Planning Board from 1962 to 70
- Served on the Ipswich Nuclear Advisory Committee
- Served on the 2005 Ipswich Heritage Landscape Inventory program.
- Helped save the John Appleton house
- Helped save the Hall-Haskell house
- Was an advisor for the rehabilitation of the Choate and Green St. bridges
- Prepared and documented grants for historic improvements on North Main Street and downtown
- Initiated and worked on the ongoing project to protect and rehabilitate the Old North Burying Ground.
Cathleen McGinley is an Ipswich native. Her keen memory has contributed to the town’s 20th-century history on the Historic Ipswich website.
- She served for eight years as the Director of the Ipswich Youth Commission at the former South Meeting House
- Managed the Oak Hill Apartments for ten years, where she was “Manager of the Year.”
- Restored and maintained the historic perennial and boxwood gardens at the Phillip Call House
The Ipswich Historical Commission is proud to present the 2018 Mary Conley Award to Paul J. and Cathleen C. McGinley for their life-long contributions to the historic preservation of our community.
Historic Ipswich 
[…] “They began renovating and discovered they had a real gem: A very early First Period house,” Harris said of the McGinleys’ efforts at the Philip Call House at 26 High St. […]