The Old Map
The old map I picked up downtown at Fred Bodin’s
tells me a lot about where I am.
In 1884 my house would have been part
of the holdings of Wilber E. Proctor, whose family
owned quite a bit of land in West Gloucester.
But the map also tells me that there was no
dwelling where mine now stands, or anywhere else
on Mr. Proctor’s land; that nearly the entire area
of the Adams Estate, which included Wingaersheek,
and Wambull’s property along Coffin’s Beach, was vacant.
Atlantic Street was there, skirting the marsh as it does today;
branching with Atlantic Avenue which ran straight to
the beach, giving Benjamin Trumbell access to his home
near Sleepy Hollow Pond. Who knows, the remains
of his three buildings may still be there in those woods.
But not a sign on the map of the houses now crammed
quite close together, each vying for a better view
of the ocean and the beach and the light across the bay;
each the home of joyous summer and the expectation
of more to come, but that map has not yet been made.
© Marty Luster 2012
Good Morning Gloucester 
Do you know what year the map is Marty? I have never heard of Rust Island called ‘Rustis’ Island. What is the story with that???????? Love this map by the way! There is so much history in W. Gloucester – it is wonderful!
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1884.
Don’t know about Rustis Island. I noticed that too.
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Now that I think of it, I think the “Rustis” probably is just abbreviated for “Rust Is”. Could explain why, living most of my life in Gloucester, that I never saw it called Rustis!!!!!!!!!
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I have the original map. It’s dated 1884. Rust Island is still there, but hard to notice while driving down Rt. 128.
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Marty the Master. Another amazing, out of the box way of looking at the ordinary, not that there’s anything ordinary about Gloucester. I get such a kick out of the way your brain works!
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Marty – is that the entire map, or is there more? I live farther down Concord St., near Sumner, and would love to see how the properties were parceled out in 1884.
Thanks!
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If I may reply for Marty, yes there is an adjoining map that shows where you live. You can come to the gallery and see it if you like: 82 Main Street, Downtown Gloucester. 978-283-2524.
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Wonderful. I’ll try to stop by Friday afternoon.
Thanks Fred!
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Can’t wait for Marty’s Sunday photo and writing. He thought of a great way to describe what he does: “Vision and Verse,” which is the subtitle of his WordPress blog, “Matched Pairs.”
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