Since I take so many pictures of Rafe’s Chasm

I Thought I would give you a little background on this great spot.  The credit for the information comes from Lisa Peek Ramos’s book, called “Magnolia A Brief History”.  They believe the name came a freed slave named Ralph who settle near the chasm and built many of the rock walls that remain on Hesperus Avenue.  There is a 10 foot wide, 200 foot long, 60 foot deep chasm.  The type of rock at Rafe’s Chasm is called Cape Ann Granite and it has been a popular tourist attraction since right after the after the Civil War. Rafe’s Chasm was sold by the Trustees of Reservations in 1959 to the City of Gloucester for one dollar.  You can read more information from Lisa Peek Ramos’s book.