According to the Boston Globe of June 9, 1991, George Gleason was a colorful character who made a decent living working the clam beds of Cape Ann. He was also a trapper, sold bait and fishing tackle and was a story-book New Englander.
This memorial is found at the entrance to Long Wharf on Atlantic St. Does anyone have personal memories of George that you would like to share? If so, please send in a comment so that we newcomers can learn more about our local history.
Good Morning Gloucester 
George used to dig worms in front of my grandparents place in Annisquam. I remember being a little kid and sitting watching him work. He taught me how to dig worms, what type of mud was best etc. He was indeed a story-book New Englander and I was glad to have known him. I only knew him on the flats but to a kid he was a really cool guy.
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I know George since I was a kid. I went to school with his son Stan, who became a teacher at Gloucester High School. When I was young I would go out at night and get Night Crawlers, worms. Then I would bring them to George, when he had the bait and tackle store on Washington Street and sell them to him for 2 cents each. I also went trapping wit George and his son Stan. One day when we were in East Glouster he retrived two traps. In the first trap he got a crow, in the second trap he got a duck. After that we went to a coffee shop to get coffee. the person at the coffee shop asked George how thing were going and George told him what he had caught. The person asked if he was settig his traps in the trees.
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I did not know Mr. Gleason personally but I did know him, from the tackle shop. I did not buy worms , (we dug our own ), but I would drive my younger brother there and he could buy his hobby train stuff from him. He had a large area in the store just for the toy trains which were very much the hot toy in the early 70’s. The kids were always welcome in there.
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Are you thinking of Duds bait & tackle on Washington St where the Azorian is now?
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That’s correct — we never had or sold model trains trains.
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George was a strong Republican and early backer of Bill Saltonstall for state senator. I’m sorry I don’t remember who Salty’s opponent was in that race, but George placed an ad in the GD Times with a drawing of a baited fishhook dropping down from the top, and the headline, “Don’t Fall for That Bait from Up the Line.” He had a gravelly voice and, as Clark’s story points out, a fine sense of humor. He was the shellfish warden forever, it seems, with Stubby Knowles taking over after George’s death.
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Excellent Piece Marty.
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Good stuff stuff and great memories. I looked up the 6/9/1991 story and the title, “A character with character Friends remember George Gleason as more than a clam digger” is well represented here in the GMG blog.
Characters are still here on Cape Ann and they have good memories.
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Thanks to everyone for the great memories and comments.
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I have fond memories of George Gleason when I lived on the N Shore.He was a character who had character. He helped me to research the life of Starfish and their close relatives It was a lot of fun Afterwards he threw the Starfish back into the sea George was kind but nobody;s fool He had strong opinions about politics but he never forced his views on others;George Gleason was a naturalist. He respected Mother Earth.He was also a story teller but did not engage in tall tales In recounting the life of Blackburn to me he praised his bravery” Men who fished the Grand Banks in wooden vessels were made of iron Now men are made of wood in iron ships’ George Gleason was a man with a will of iron when it came to what he truly believed in He also believed in the best of human nature.
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