NEWBURYPORT — The city honored one of its most celebrated sons Monday when a roughly 48-year-old portrait of late Mayor Byron Matthews was unveiled on the second floor at City Hall.
“We had it stored for some time but the family decided it belongs here, with the city,” Matthews’ son, John, said. “We just had the two-year anniversary of my dad’s passing last week and I think this is a fitting tribute.”
The Matthews portrait, which is next to the auditor’s office, is the second that hangs within the Pleasant Street building. The first is in the City Council chambers along with many of Newburyport’s other mayors. The newest addition was painted in 1977 by local artist Robert Scott Jackson.
Mayor Sean Reardon said Matthews joins the city’s first mayor, Caleb Cushing, as the only chief executive with two portraits at City Hall.
“Whether it’s the (Custom House Maritime Museum), or the industrial park or the beautiful waterfront, the downtown revitalization, the boardwalk, really he had just such an impact,” he said of Matthews.
Born at Anna Jaques Hospital in 1928, Matthews began his political career serving three terms on the City Council. Elected the city’s first full-time mayor in 1968, he would eventually serve five consecutive, two-year terms until 1978.
That was the time when urban renewal dramatically changed the downtown into the popular destination it remains today. Matthews was at the city’s helm during almost all of it.
“He had his fingerprints all over our beautiful downtown,” Reardon said.
After leaving City Hall, the former mayor served in the state Office of Communities and Development as secretary from 1979 to 1983. Matthews became well known for his support of the Highland Avenue hospital where the main entrance and walkway is dedicated to him as well as his wife.
In March 2023, he passed away at the age of 94.
Attending the brief ceremony was Matthews’ wife of 69 years, Helen; former assistant Jack Bradshaw; and former Mayors Mary Anne Clancy and Donna Holaday.
John Matthews told the crowd of roughly 20 that a group of people got together during his father’s fifth term in 1977 to have the painting commissioned. When it was completed, Matthews said hundreds of people turned out in Haverhill during the Blizzard of ‘78 to see it dedicated.
“That’s how well he was regarded,” he said.
After the dedication ceremony was over, John Matthews told The Daily News his father was about 48 years old in the painting. But he looks about 10 years older.
“He grew into the painting,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t understand it’s an impression.”
Helen Matthews said she has been hanging the portrait of her husband at their home ever since its initial dedication.
“I’m not going to be around forever and I feel good that his picture will be here,” she said, referring to City Hall. “He loved this city and loved being the mayor. So I’m happy it’s here.”
Clancy said the ceremony was a fitting tribute to a man who did so much for the city.
Holaday added she was grateful to Matthews for all the work he did to preserve, protect and grow the downtown.
“It’s good to see his portrait here,” she said. “I’m happy that some of his family could be here, too.”
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.