Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

147 Thatcher Rd

978-281-1700

Susan Morreale contributes:

Hi Everyone!

You may have noticed the historical house plaque on the front of the hotel building showing an image of a schooner.

The plaques were designed in 1986 in a tombstone shape with a silhouette of the Ernestina in the arch. It will be be among those schooners featured in the Schoonerfest this weekend.

Ernestina was originally launched in 1894, restored in 1987, designated the official vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1994 (original name: the Effie M. Morrissey) and named a National Historic Landmark in 1990 by the United States Department of the Interior. She is owned by the state of Massachusetts and is part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

Gloucester antique house historian, Prudence Fish (1935 – 2022), photographed the Ernestina in 1986 when it was in Gloucester harbor and submitted it as the logo for Gloucester Historical Commission (GHC) historical house plaques. As part of the Historical Commission, Pru oversaw the creation and distribution of the approximately 100 plaques throughout Gloucester, until her death last year.

The GHC historical house plaque project will be resumed this fall and continue to include a hand-painted silhouette of the Ernestina.

– Susan

ERNESTINA-MORRISSEY
Homeport: New Bedford, MA
Length on Deck: 106 ft
Schoonerfest Location:  Maritime Gloucester

Launched in 1894 at the James & Tarr shipyard in Essex as the Effie M. Morrissey named for Captain/owner William Morrissey’s daughter. She has lived her life out fishing the Grand Banks, exploring the Arctic, as a packet ship on Cape Verde and finally as an educational vessel. She was just re-launched this past Spring after nearly a decade of work to bring her back to life and continue her work as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ official sailing vessel.

– ERNESTINA earned an award in 1987 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for “outstanding commitment to excellence in historic preservation.”
– In 1990, the Secretary of the Interior designated ERNESTINA a National Historic Landmark and listed her as in “excellent” condition.
– In 1997, the U.S. Congress established New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and included ERNESTINA as part of the park.

http://www.ernestina.org/about/about-ernestina/history/
http://www.ernestina.org/
LIST OF 2023 SCHOONERS: https://www.maritimegloucester.org/sf-schooners
Massachusetts State Vessel: https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/massachusetts/state-vessel-aircraft-landmark/ernistina#google_vignette

Cheers to sunshine & blue skies!

The rain is finally behind us, and the forecast is full of sunshine for the next week. Make the most of this late summer weather on the deck at Minglewood Harborside.

Sign Up Today Directly Online-24 Hour Access-Easy Join Feature-No Join Fees-Clean and Safe-Interactive Training-Free Welcome Gift

www.freedomfitma.com 

978-865-3150

To join the livestream chat and watch go to www.facebook.com/goodmorninggloucester at 9:15AM Sunday

Alice Gardner Submits:

Hi Joey ,

I always consider my self extremely lucky when I visit the Jodrey State Fish Pier and get to watch the fishermen mending their nets and get a chance to say hello . Such nice people .

One more reason I love Gloucester .

Alice Gardner

Hey Joey

Growing up in Pigeon Cove was truly magical.  We had the quarries and Dogtown behind us with the Tool Company hammers and ocean in front. Riding our bikes ‘in to town’ was a big adventure.  

Seeing the Motif was never casual.  Its red siding dotted with colorful buoys sitting stop the harbor reassured me that I belonged to Cape Ann and the sea.  It’s grip has never let go.

In the early 70’s our neighbor had secured MOTIF 1 on his Mass plate and even made it into the GD Times when he did do.  I thought that was pretty cool, even as a kid.

After moving to CA in the 90’s I decided I was going to have the same plate.  I researched and found that it was available despite the fact that one of the guy’s sons lives down in Laguna Beach.

So thanks for the sticker.  It will sit proudly next to the MOTIF 1 plate and my UMass alumni sticker. Once a townie always a townie.

Jeff Mangarpan
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA