Alan Davis at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor last Sunday, receiving a commendation from State Senator Bruce Tarr on behalf of the Mass General Assembly
Roger LaRae Davis write,
“First, thanks for the blog last month on Alan Davis’s Digital Dogtown project. He received his Eagle Scout award this past Sunday at the Troop 112 Court of Honor.
Roger continues, “There has been a tremendous outpouring of community support and offers of assistance for the repair of the project, with offers of ideas, money, materials and labor. We really hope that with all this publicity, the community can take ownership of this project, so that it becomes more than just Alan’s project, but Gloucester’s project.”
For any questions, please call Roger at 978-559-1190 or email Alan at digital.dogtown@gmail.com.
Jason Grow adds, “I’d like to see if our community could rally and help Alan Davis rebuild his “Digital Dogtown” project…Some money, some volunteerism, some materials donations? I’ve got a call into his father, O’Maley Middle School science teacher Roger Davis, to see what this would cost and what would be needed to help Alan replace his project. If you’d like to help out, let me know; send an email to jasongrow@comcast.net and I’ll see what, if anything, we can do. It would be terrific if we could, as a community, show the knuckleheads who did this that stupidity doesn’t win.”
One of the posts still in good condition, showing the map and QR code.
One post with its map and QR code ripped off.
Alan next to a post after it was put in place last Fall. This post links to a web page explaining the role of the forest as a filter for the watershed feeding the city’s water supply in Babson Reservoir.
This is all that is left of that post.
Eagle Scout Zach Schultz helping to install a post.
Alan next to the post near the “Spiritual Power” boulder. This post linked to a biography of Roger Babson, the author of the motto stones in Dogtown and the Gloucester philanthropist who donated the Dogtown watershed land to the city for its reservoir. This post is now gone, disappeared.
Alan (second from left) and fellow scouts of Gloucester’s Troop 112 with the post installed at Whale’s Jaw. From left, Todd and Noah Tierney, Alan Davis, Craig Renales, and Jeb Hogan.
The same scene at Whale’s Jaw now, with only a stick left in the hole where the post was removed, apparently burnt.
Notice the burnt log and burnt grass near the hole at Whale’s Jaw.
A Dogtown hiker scanning the QR code from the post set at the Dogtown entrance, 45 minutes after the post was installed.
The post at the entrance parking area, apparently broken off by a car or truck. The splintered remains of the post have since been removed entirely, leaving only a hole in the ground.
Scouts and leaders installing the last post. This post has now been broken up. From left, Todd Tierney, Wayne Moulton, Tyrell Moulton, Roger Davis (holding the post), Alan Davis (behind his father), Dave Wheeler, Jeb Hogan, Craig Renales and Noah Tierney.
All images courtesy of Roger LaRae Davis.
Good Morning Gloucester 
I can’t understand the mindset of someone who destroys someone else’s work just for the fun of it, or out of sheer malice. I found these signs both interesting and helpful on my recent walks through Dogtown. I hope the culprit is caught somehow, but I don’t know if there is any way to change their behavior long-term. As Alfred the butler said, “Some people just want to watch the world burn.”
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I hadn’t yet had a chance to see the markers, but was looking forward to it. I imagine they were super helpful and interesting and hope to see them there again in the near future.
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“Many people in the area don’t want the Dogtown trails flooded with tourists.” Because of the Boy Scouts’ Digital Dogtown? Please! Even Downtown Gloucester isn’t flooded with tourists, except in the height of the summer, and we have advertising, events, parking, water views, and places to eat! If anything, this crime will encourage Cape Ann residents to go into Dogtown, because it belongs to all of us. I think the truth will out, and soon.
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I agree completely Fred–Really? Dogtown Overrun with tourists? It seems to me that this is once again a case of an extreme minority wielding power over the vast majority–the few who don’t want markers versus the many who think it is a wonderful idea. Irregardless of how the majority feels, the vandals resorted to extreme actions–come hell or high water their way, is the only way.
I share in Roger’s call for help and in Jason’s rallying call to show the vandals that we as a community aren’t intimidated by vandals and can come together to rebuild the Digital Dogtown markers.
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What this vandalism has done is polarize the community to protect and visit Dogtown, and often. It has also probably motivated the Gloucester Police to seriously investigate who did this. For someone to walk the trails of Dogtown and target the QR markers is not just a random act by partiers. The destruction was systematic and sinister. Our Dogtown is unique, historically significant, and must be protected.
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Amen!
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I moved to Gloucester ten years ago and have yet to take the tour of Dogtown. I was so looking forward to going on Alan’s tour of Dogtown with the Davis’s and was outraged that anyone would destroy such a wonderful way to enjoy a historic part of Gloucester. What a shame that there is a lack of respect for the hard work and effort Alan put in. Perhaps another future Eagle Scout will figure out a way to monitor the posts once they are replaced.
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We’ll solve this problem.
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I was so impressed with what Alan did, and so upset to see what happened. I spoke with his mom & offered to help out. Hopefully someone will snitch on the vandals. I think a little (or lot) of community service should be in their future.
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I saw these posts a month or so ago and thought what a great idea and I wanted to go back and check them all out. It makes me sick that such a small minded person would do this. Even worse if they thought it was to keep people out.
When Joey gets back I hope Jason Grow and GMG get a paypal button up on a sticky post so that we can help Alan and he gets replacements up. And we keep putting them up until these brainless shits give up or they are caught.
I learned a lot in scouting: descendite noli nothi or the non-latin aphorism: Illegitimi non carborundum
And please, if you are in the bar with the pals and someone brags that they did this to keep the tourists out of the woods please call them the biggest asshole you ever met and report them to the Gloucester Police. But whoever did this cannot have too many friends.
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I grew up on Reynard Street in the mid 60’s and 70’s. My parents still live there. Dogtown was the the wild west as far as I was concerned! A playground with a vast forest with footpaths, blueberry bushes, abandoned cellars, stone foundations and endless trails. The wild life consisted of pheasants, squirrels, bunnies, fox and other colorful birds. Our days were endless with an abundance of adventures of horseless “cowboys and Indians”. We had quite a few kids in our neighborhood and we would “go back in time” in Dogtown.
I hadn’t been back there until a couple of weeks ago when I joined Mr. Tarr and 40 or so other curious nature walkers to hike the footpaths once again. I was amazed by the changes that have occurred over the years naturally. I was enthralled with the stories of Mr.Tarr, the Dogtown Officianato. However, when I saw the digital guide post….. My first thougt was…Gosh, I wish I thought of this!!!! I was so impressed. Such a great idea to share and keep the history of Dogtown alive! I loved it.
I hadn’t realized that the Eagle Scouts were the inventors, again, I was extrememly impressed that this was done by kids!!! My husband and I were Heartbroken when we the story in the newspaper. Count us in to help put it all back together. I will help set up a reward to find the culprits. Whatever it takes. Great job you guys!!!
Dianne & Wayne C
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of Dogtown and of your recent experience with Mr. Tarr. Thank you, too, for your very generous offer. Perhaps if the culprits are caught, when the markers are reinstalled, they won’t be vandalized a second time.
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Agreed!!!
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It was a great and worthwhile project. Dogtown should be one of the assets in Gloucester history, and it still holds, in spite of detector hunters, many artifacts which represent our heritage. There is no “invasion” of tourists on Gloucester, and it certainly would not include people who are not interested in History, or fear ticks and mosquitoes, favoring fried clams and sea trips ( nothing wrong with that ). Shame on people who demonstrate by violent means their ignorance and their lack of respect towards the Scouts and the general public . not to forget that setting fires in the woods is illegal and dangerous to the community . This becomes the concern of our Police, as well as the Environment Commission . I would.think that these misguided people who destroy well planned means to learn,find better things to do , and respect for local History . They do not OWN
Dogtown.
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Thank you for writing Solange, Bernie, and Paul.
To Alan, Roger, and Jason–please keep GMG in the loop as to how we can help with future efforts–when you know the details of where to send donations and when the reconstruction is scheduled so that we can put out a call for volunteers.
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There are good and bad people in this world, Alan and friends being the good. Alan will all the support of the good people will rebuild, it is just such a shame. I am working with Silvie and hopefully everyone who would like to make Dogtown shine again on a Earth Day cleanup, date to be announced . After seeing all the wonderful people who went on the Dogtown ecotrip I had to call Silvie and see if she could help me clean this wonderful place. Please come to the cleanup, we need you all. Patti Amaral Clean City Initiative
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See you there Patti!
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Wonderful project. Despicable that someone would destroy the markers, especially after they were imagined, created and installed by our youth, and serve such a wonderful purpose.
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Thank you to everyone who is writing and showing their support to Alan and Digital Dogtown!!
No way this isn’t going to happen, happen soon, and be even more meaningful by showing how our community as a whole treasures the good works of its innovators!!!!!!
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Alan Davis came before Gloucester’s Open Space and Recreation Committee twice to present his plans for Digital Dogtown. We committee members were impressed not only with his great idea but also by the preparation, thought and hard work he put into this. Lots of negative stories about teens make the news. Alan’s a great example of the flipside, a smart, hard-working kid who did a good thing.
I’m convinced this is a temporary setback, Alan. Please keep working to make Gloucester a better place. Thank you for your example. And thanks for bringing us together to protect Dogtown and support your project.
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Thanks for writing John. It is interesting to learn about how the project was approved and good to know that Alan had the full support of the committee and the city.
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We need to find the SOBs who did this and PUNISH THEM. If only we had more decent people like the Scouts who made this all happen, unfortunately, they are a dwindling minority in our society.
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This is a very helpful discussion, and so supportive! We have been so busy this week getting the story out in various news channels… the story just went viral and we are simply trying to keep up (while we keep up with work: Alan at school, band, scouts and lifeguarding, me with school and family). Next steps are to set up a proper bank account so people can make the financial donations as they have offered. We want it to be transparent and tax-deductible; suggestions welcome. Trying to figure out the best approach to replacement posts. Naturally, we would want them to be more vandal-proof. But that could just up the ante, so to speak, challenging the vandals to try harder. Can they be made durable but easily repaired? Wood, concrete, granite, metal? Simply attached to a tree? Not obtrusive, but not hidden to the point no one can find them. However they are made, the QR codes still have to be legible/usable, and stand up to natural weathering and attacks by vandals. Quite the engineering challenge! Any suggestions?
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I’m Alan’s Uncle from Virginia. All Alan’s Grandparents came to Alan’s Court of Honor as well as I – His Grandfather (from Arizona) and I are both Eagle Scouts and we discovered that we had both been to the 50th Annivesary Jamboree in Colorado Springs back in 1960. It was fun to find my scouter uniform from 37 years ago still fit! Yess!
We were saddend by the vandalism of course but were very impressed with Alan’s project, the Court of Honor, the Docksider’s concert (Gloucester do you know you have a 1st class Big Jazz Band hiding out in your high school? OK Alan play’s trumpet – impressively) I was also impressed by the troop – the parents – the community support. They have a very high number of Eagles in troop 112 even though the troop is relatively small – Their secret I am told is that they require the Parents to register and participate in some way.
It was a memorable weekend. I am confident that Alan with the help of his fellow scouts and the community will get Digital Dogtown back to 100%. soon. Until then a webpage with the QR codes and GPS co-ordinates might fill a gap. Perhaps as a mega-multi geocache?
Congratulations again Alan. welcome to the Aeire!
Bill Davis
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the first time I went to Dogtown was thanks to Geocaching in 2005. It was fun to learn online about the history of the place, one of the local geocachers had put caches in strategic places and wrote up the histories of each spot online. i found there was really no good resource for learning more about dogtown. if dogtown had ever gotten “overrun” by anyone it probably started with us geocachers coming to the place… you can’t keep secret history if people become interested in it. and there is so much interesting and historical stuff back in there.
I feel awful for this eagle scout – can you tell me how to get in touch with his troop or him directly. I’m the chaplain for troop 87 in groveland, and i bet we would love to help him.
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