That the Pigeon Cove Circle, a Gloucester female benevolent society incorporated in 1840, is the oldest continuous women’s organization on Cape Ann, and that their annual Christmas in the Cove Fair has been going on for over 140 years? The group had previously operated out of the Pigeon Cove Chapel, which they had built and were the primary financial supporters of until their expulsion by the Church in 1967 “in order that we may be obedient to the scriptural teachings on the purpose of the church.” The Circle had always given the money they earned to projects that interested them, including, but not exclusively, the church. Their gifts, often given anonymously, include fuel assistance, food and clothing for the needy as well as a scholarship fund. The church executive board desired that all the money the Circle earned be turned over to them to use in whatever way they saw fit to spend it.
In 1984, after many years without a permanent home, the Pigeon Cove Circle built their Center at 6 Breakwater Ave. The land was purchased from Rockport after it had been taken for taxes, with a mortgage given by Edith Dean (Circle member and president of the Cape Ann Tool Company). It is a nice, well lit community space on the corner of Breakwater Ave. and Green Street at Pigeon Cove Harbor with a full kitchen, two bathrooms and a large function room, as well as a parking lot. The space is available to rent for functions.
Their Christmas in the Cove Fair will be held this year on Saturday, December 3rd from 9:00am – 1:00pm, with lunch at 11:30. Also, if you are an artist or crafter with things to sell for the holidays, there are still tables available. I’ll be there, so come by for the Fair or join me as an exhibitor. Contact Linda Wright at 978-546-6698, if you’d like to rent a table ($40).
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
Did you know that Pigeon Cove is in ROCKPORT!
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I Think she knows Lois.
Did you you know that rockport was part of Gloucester a long time ago!
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Yes, Lois, I know that Pigeon Cove is in Rockport, but I don’t understand your comment.
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I received an email from a woman in Annisquam about this post, she wrote:
I am President of the Annisquam Sewing Circle which began in 1837 making our group 175 years old. For the Pigeon Cove Circle to say they are the oldest women’s group on Cape Ann beginning in the year 1840 does not make them the oldest on Cape Ann. It makes them quite old, but not the oldest.
I responded to her: I did expect feedback from someone in Annisquam (where I also live). I based my statement on the book Nippers, Nightcaps and Needles: A Story of The Circle at Pigeon Cove by Eleanor C. Parsons, which identifies “the Pigeon Cove Cirlce as the oldest continuous women’s organization on Cape Ann, probably the oldest in Massachusetts, and possibly the oldest in the nation.” It goes on to say that on March 11, 1812, long before the official organization date in 1840, six women at Gloucester Harbor Parish decided to do something about the compelling need of their neighbors. The six women — Sarah Smith, Mary Phelps, Nancy Cutein, Lucy Coffin, Hannah Whittemore, Abigail Parran — met at the home of Mary Phelps, whose husband was the first postmaster of Gloucester. They met to form a religious charitable society to cultivate a spirit of piety and charity among the members, to promote religious interests generally, and to make garments for the poor. They met once a week and named their organization the Gloucester Female Benevolent Society. I would gather it is this 1812 date that allows them to call themselves the oldest continuous women’s organization on Cape Ann. I did note in the book that in 1837 Annisquam women met to form their own branch of the Gloucester Female Benevolent Society. Sisters Eunice and Anstess Fellows met at the home of Elizabeth Pulsifer on Leonard Street and at that meeting chose Nancy Leonard (Ezra Leonard’s widow) to serve as president.
Does the Annisquam Circle have a similar book of its history? One thing I have certainly learned since moving here is that there are many versions of history, depending on who you talk to or what you read, and I like to know all sides of a story.
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Actually at the time the Pigeon Cove Circle (originally called the Gloucester Female Benevolent Society), was started in 1812, it was in Gloucester – Rockport didn’t exist yet.
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The current building at breakwater ave was built in around 1974 not 1984
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I have fond memories of Mrs. Dean and her family, they had been neighbors of my Mothers family on Pigeon Hill Street and visits with her on Philips Avenue when visiting Pigeon Cove (we had moved to CT, but spent our Summers and Holidays visiting family). On one occasion when I was a student in Boston I ran into her at the Public Health Department in Boston, we had a nice visit while waiting our turns to be seen.
My grandmother and my mother were both active members of the Pigeon Cove Circle in the from the 1930’s to the 1950’s, a part of my family history.
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