Joey,
I grew up in Gloucester (Mansfield St. and a few other locations)including Beach Court in the Fort.I shopped at your grandfather’s “Pat’s Center Grocery” and graduated St. Ann High in 1958.
Last summer I was invited to give a talk on”The Irish in the Fort” at the Sawyer Free on Main St. My daughters and their entire families joined me (15 in all ) last summer.
It was a very busy week and they did kayaking, whale watches and swimming with their own families.
This year, my two daughters have invited me to visit Gloucester (girls only) from Sunday night, April 27 through April 30 and driving back to NJ on May 1.
Since it is “off season”, they have booked Ocean House on Bass Rocks.
I’d like them to see Gloucester from a native’s point of view, not the touristy side.
They have enjoyed St. Joseph’s subs at Vergilio’s and books at Gloucester Book Store.
I hope to take them inside city hall, both churches OLGV and St. Ann’s.
I had a tour of the Fisk organ factory in 2019, so I’d like to visit the CAM exhibit on Poplar St., so they can see the beautiful miniature model organs by Greg Bover.
Is there anything in the St. Peter’s Club about the history of St. Peter’s Fiesta or the Blessing of the Fleet? Or even the Greasy Pole race.
In the summer of 1957, I had the privilege of being on the Ida and Joseph during the blessing. My high school choir friends invited me to St. Joseph’s Day altars and the Mother of Grace club was still active.
This is the vanishing part of Gloucester that I’d like my daughters to see or hear about.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
My daily Gloucester Times, forwarded by a classmate and your Good Morning Gloucester keep me connected and updated, even though I live in NJ.
Anne “Nancy” Power Parsons
SAH 1958
Good Morning Gloucester 