Month: May 2016

Hi Joey, can you post this review with the photo of the cover about Jack Sweeney recently published book.. Thanks, Rick Gold, Gloucester. 

Jack Sweeney, of Rocky Neck, recently published a book about baseball titled,”101 All-Time Fantasy Baseball Teams”. I am a friend of Jack’s and am writing this review, not because I know him, but because I loved the book and think others should hear about it. 

  While I am not what one would call an avid baseball fan, I do have fond memories as a boy of the likes of Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and the fables of guys like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and others of their ilk.

  Jack’s book brought me back to those nostalgic period in my life when I did think more about ball players, their feats and fame. The book has an interesting architecture which breaks up the pages into interesting short segments about the players. The book pulls one into reading the stories and sub-stories about the players and the sport with a nice touch of humor. Yes, the book does have statistics but not the boring columns of numbers, but rather short stories that tie the players and the sport and all together.  

  For me to stay interested in a book about baseball was this author’s great accomplishment and I give Jack a lot of credit for keeping my interest peeked…. after reading 25 pages I was hooked.

  Read the book from one of Gloucester’s own and I think you will see what I mean. By the way, the book’s cover was created by Jack’s wife, Marie. The book is available at The Book Store (downtown). 

Rick Gold

Love you so much.  Thanks for everything you do for us❤️

May Day by the Bay opens the 2016 season with an elegant and yet simple lawn party in Lanesville right on the water of Ipswich Bay, sponsored by the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gloucester on Saturday May 14th. This event will start at 4:00 pm and will last till sundown. It will combine the elegant theme of a long gone era, the The Great Gatsby Jazz Age along with a simple lawn party where only present day casual cocktail dress is necessary. For those people who wish to dress up and enjoy the fun of living in a different age, there will be a costume contest, Here we would expect to see some imaginative and exciting costumes to add fun to the entire occasion. There will be a designer signature cocktail, cheese table and passed hot hors d’oeurves, while live music will be provided by the Kate Barry Band. The highlight of the event will be a silent auction along with a raffle offering a grand prize for the winner. The monies from this event will help support St.John’s commitment to the wider community through their many and varied outreach programs, including Harvest Meals, Open Door, Grace Center, St.John’s Thrift Shop, Alcoholics Anonymous, Souper Bowl, Action Shelter Sandwich Lunches, Common Cathedral, Pastoral Care and Learn to Cope. Here are some of the items you may find while at May Day by the Bay: In the silent auction both small items such as jewelry, handcrafted, artwork, movie tickets, gift baskets, and large items such as estate jewelry, week at a holiday cottage, fine art, tickets to sports and cultural events, gift certificates, and services of all kinds from financial to tutoring. Advanced Reservations must be purchased by contacting Gwen MacDonald at <gwen.s.macdonald@gmail.com> or call (774) 225 – 1513.

Geno Mondello at The Dory Shop

This is the bell in the front yard of the Community Church of East Gloucester on Chapel Street. I visited the Church last Sunday, but before that I had no idea it existed. I found the bell interesting, and when I did some research on it, I found it very interesting. Blake Bell Co. dates back to the 1800’s and William Blake was an apprentice of Paul Revere.

“William Blake was an apprentice of Paul Revere. William Blake was involved with, and owned, several metal casting companies in private & with partners from 1820 to 1890.

In this historic time period, firms opened & closed based on the individual financer decision to fund, to continue funding, or to withdraw funding, in order to participate in another financial endeavor. If a financial partner withdrew, it was necessary for the principal owner, usually the craftsman, to locate another individual as a source of funding. A change in the funding partner typically required a name change. (Today, this funding is accomplished by the stock market.)
In 1823, Paul Revere III, Wm. Blake & John Sullivan founded the Boston & Braintree Co. The bells cast are not dated. This same year, the foundry’s name was changed to Boston Copper Co. The Boston Copper Co. closed in 1830. Boston Copper Co. bells are dated.

In 1830-1868, Wm. Blake partnered with Henry N. Hooper, & Richardson forming the Hooper, Blake & Richardson Company located in Boston, casting bells.
In 1859 to 1890, Wm. Blake & Henry Hooper formed another bell foundry: Henry N. Hooper & Co., also known as Hooper & Co. in Boston. Hooper bells dated 1859 are located at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Lynn, Mass., and Old Round Church in Richmond, Vermont.

W. Blake & Company located at Allen Streets in Boston, Massachusetts was in operation from 1820 to 1890. At that time, he operated under the names of W. Blake & Co. and Blake Bell Co. In 1825, Blake cast the first set of chimes by an American foundry. (Previously, all chimes were cast in Europe.) Two chimes were cast: one of eight bells and one of eleven bells. The largest bell weighed 3,000 pounds.

In 1881, the Blake, Lamb & Co. at Brighton & Allen Streets in Waterbury, Connecticut was in operation. Little is recorded of this company.”

Source: https://americanbell.org/aba-forum/topic/blake-bell-company/

E.J. Lefavour

This morning’s view of Lobster Cove….yet another misty one but everything is greening up nicely!