My View of Life on the Dock
I caught these two kitesurfers, the one above on the afternoon of the storm, and the other photos yesterday after the storm. I could be wrong, but the top photos look like Paul Morrison, and the bottom photo looks like Ed Collard. Have our hardy Blackburn challenger men decided to up the anti in the area of exciting, challenging and frigid sports to take part in around Cape Ann, or is it two other thrill seeking guys?
E.J.
Today is our beloved Joey C.’s birthday. Can anyone guess which one? (hint: it’s between 38 and 60). Happy Birthday, Joey!
That the Little Art Cinema, a small single-screen seasonal cinema on the corner of Broadway and School Streets in Rockport is located on the second floor of Spiran Hall, VASA Order of America’s Spiran Lodge #98, a Scandinavian Fraternal Society founded in 1908.
The Vasa Order of America began more than a century ago as a benefit fraternal society for Swedish immigrants to the United States. Membership at the time was limited to Swedish born men who through the Vasa Order met others who needed to learn the new language and ways of the new country. A benefit fund provided a small income to members during sickness, and a death benefit, which at that time would cover final expenses. The Order is named for Gustav Vasa, who liberated Sweden in the 16th century and became the first King of modern Sweden. The name of Vasa reflects the Order’s roots as a Swedish American Fraternal Organization. Swedish in origin, the Vasa Order welcomes men and women over 14 years of age of Scandinavian roots, (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish or Icelandic,) and their spouses who would like to rediscover the traditions of their forefathers; and those who are not of Nordic ancestry but are committed to the promotion and advancement of Swedish and Nordic heritage and culture. They do this by encouraging the observance of special dates old and new, such as Midsummer, Leif Ericksson Day, etc. with proper festivities including Smorgasbord and Scandinavian music. While much of their activity occurs during the summer season, in mid-December it is hard to find a Vasa Lodge where Luciafest is not observed.
As we all know, the Scandinavian immigrants were an important part of the quarrying industry on Cape Ann, and continue as an integral part of the community here to this day.
About the theatre, one Yelp reviewer wrote: ah. This place is like a museum of memories. AND a labor of love it seems. A tiny little theatre on the 2nd floor of a building on the corner of Broadway and School St. in Rockport, “Little Art Cinema” is something from another time.
I happened to see a poster in the “Bean and Leaf” cafe on the Neck (that’s Bearskin y’all, not Rocky Neck) indicating that a documentary on the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier was playing the week of July 8. I made a note to see this and wondered where there was a theatre in Rockport. (who knew?)
I looked online and found a phone number but it is disconnected. Don’t let this stop you….The theatre is there and appears to run like clockwork. One guy sells tickets, popcorn and snacks AND runs the projection. I’m not sure if he’s the owner but he sure seems to be ‘into it.’ Turns out the film I went to see, airing at 7 and 9PM – was a double feature. There was a film about Pablo Picasso playing before “A Wedding in Monaco.” EXCELLENT. Can’t tell you the last time I sat in a theatre that has been showing films since 1890 [this may have been when the building was built, but the theatre has only been there since 1985], in the air conditioning, with popcorn to see 2 films in a row for $7.50~~~~!!!! Seems like they show quirky, artsy, independents…and I love that!
Seats are “decent” but not like new cinema chairs…no drink holders, etc. Theatre is up a flight of stairs. Parking is ON STREET and after 6 you no longer need to feed the meter.
As Cinema Treasures says about the Little Art Cinema: “This small single-screen seasonal cinema in the seaside Massachusetts beach and resort town of Rockport is located on the second floor of a building called Spiran Hall. The concession stand and ticket-purchase area are located on the first floor.
Walk up the winding staircase to the second level and you enter a pleasant but slightly musty auditorium with seating on a single flat level amid a moderately tattered environment. The small place has real character and is of the kind that is sadly disappearing from America.
The programming of mostly art-house movies of recent vintage is appropriate and reflects the interests and tastes of the clientele that spend time in the area and patronize the place.”
I never knew this place existed. Sounds like Cape Ann Cinema, but without Rob and the comfy couches and chairs, and no musty or tattered environment – not to say that isn’t cool in its own right. I personally happen to be a fan of cool old rusty, musty, tattered places and things.
E.J. Lefavour
Actually it is on Washington Street, but that collection of tools with the pumpkin gives this still life scene a Criminal Minds serial killerish Halloween feel. Does anyone know where it is?
E.J. Lefavour
That lobsters attack homies? I was walking across the footbridge in Annisquam and heard this homie crying out in great distress and trying desperately to free himself from an object caught on his neck. At first I thought he had been hooked by a fishing lure. In fact, he had been attacked by a feisty little lobster who obviously didn’t want to be dinner. It took the homie quite some time to get free, but then it was time for a lobster dinner.
E.J. Lefavour
I always thought this was Pigeon Cove, but I have recently become aware that Pigeon Cove is actually a community of Rockport that extends from the granite bridge by Granite Pier all the way to Folly Cove. I never knew. It’s amazing how many unique individual parts there are to Cape Ann. These photos are of Pigeon Cove Harbor.
E.J Lefavour
LoGrasso’s Café & Bistro at Isinglass Place, 13 Railroad Ave. in Rockport is located upstairs in the building that once was home to the Rockport Twine & Rope Factory where my father worked in the 60’s and early 70’s. Prior to that it was the Cape Ann Isinglass and Glue Company, formed in 1868 by the firm of J.J. Manning & Brother (William).
Isinglass is a substance obtained from the dried swim bladders of fish, originally sturgeon, but now primarily cod and hake. It is a form of collagen used mainly for the clarification of wine and beer. It can also be cooked into a paste for specialized gluing purposes, such as repairing parchment. The swim bladders or sounds of certain fish are largely composed of that variety of gelatin called isinglass. The sounds are manufactured into isinglass by a mechanical operation which consists of passing the macerated sounds successively between several sets of rollers, the first set kneading the sounds into a homogeneous sheet, and the subsequent sets squeezing and elongating the sheets into the ribbons of isinglass known to commerce.
Isinglass is a protein-based clarifier that has been traditionally used by commercial wineries and is preferred by some winemakers because of the softer, gentler effect it has on the color and body of the wine. It is very effective in adding a high polish to white and blush wines.
Wouldn’t it be cool if LoGrasso’s served isinglass clarified wines. Unfortunately it is a BYOB establishment, so you would have to find and bring your own.
E.J. Lefavour
Caleb Clapp and camera shy Tracy Dixon moved to Gloucester in June from the South End. Caleb loves the blog. The house they moved into had a GMG sticker on it, so the prior occupants obviously did too.
Marcia and Al Murray from Peotone, IL (about 50 miles from Chicago) stopped in at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery on their last day in Gloucester to get a Did You Know? Book and a sticker. Marcia’s mom was from Gloucester and she spent many summers here growing up. She comes back every year, and Al has been coming with her for the past 19 years. They both love it here and are devoted FOB’s.
E.J. Lefavour
Brendan and Heather Flaherty with Aidan, Liam and Kiernan from Westport, CT, originally from Gloucester, represent with Joey C. at the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. They bumped into each other at Madfish Wharf after not having seen each other since High School. You never know who you’ll meet on Rocky Neck.
E.J. Lefavour
Photo by Judy Wilburn (my sister) taken at Madfish Wharf.
E.J. Lefavour
Robert and Pamela Marcaurelle from Ipswich representing at the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. Robert has been a friend of the blog for two years, and met Joey when he was manning the gate at the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington and Joey was there to photograph the Boston Massacre Derby Girls. He also works in the seafood business at Castle Hill Lobster Co.
As you can probably tell by the way they are dressed and the fact that the gallery is now closed, I am catching up. Sorry Robert and Pamela for this taking so long, but better late than never.
E.J. Lefavour
Charity, Laine and James Ciaramitaro represent from Disney with Mickey and Mini. You gotta love Mini’s yellow shoes, and she really seems to like James alot.
E.J. Lefavour
That Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery will be packing up and closing for the season on Sunday, October 16? We want to thank all of you who came to the Gallery this season, contributed food and your presence to make our Sunday morning Mug Ups and other events so much fun, and especially to those who purchased our work. As someone who makes her living as an artist, every bit of support and patronage is greatly appreciated. The Gallery will be open Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 6:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00 pm, when final pack up will done. Paul Frontiero, Jr. has asked me to let people know that proceeds of the sales of any of his artwork at the Gallery will be donated to the Holy Family Parish Dominican Republic Mission in memory of his son, Paul III; a special way to make a donation, and own a wonderful piece of Paul Frontiero, Jr.’s artwork in the process. I will not take any commission on sales of Paul’s work, so 100% will go to the Mission.
Other galleries at 77 Rocky Neck on Madfish Wharf that will also be open for their final weekend include Wendie Demuth Photography, Diana’s Gallery and Gallery 5 (Ben and Jon MacAdam and Jeff Cluett). The Rocky Neck Gallery at 53 Rocky Neck will be open for its final day on Saturday from 11:00 to 6:00 pm with 10% off members’ work. Last chance to support your local art colony and pick up some great deals on unique gifts.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That the Schooner Roseway hauled out this morning at Marine Railways? She’s a beauty. Stop by the Railways and check her out. Here’s some interesting history about her.
In the fall of 1920 a Halifax, Nova Scotia, newspaper challenged the fisherman of Gloucester, Massachusetts, to a race between the Halifax fishing schooners and the Gloucester fleet. Therefore many schooners, such as Roseway, built at this time were not strictly designed for fishing but in order to protect American honor in the annual races.
Roseway, 137′ in sparred length, was designed as a fishing yacht to compete against the Canadians by John James and built in 1925 in his family’s shipyard in Essex, Massachusetts. Father and son worked side by side on Roseway, carrying on a long New England history of wooden shipbuilding. She was commissioned by Harold Hathaway of Taunton, Massachusetts, and was named after an acquaintance of Hathaway’s “who always got her way.” Despite her limited fishing history, Roseway set a record of 74 swordfish caught in one day in 1934.
Roseway was built and maintained to an exceedingly high standard, using a special stand of white oak from Hathaway’s property in Taunton. She had varnished rails and stanchions and had a house built for her every winter. She was so well maintained that the coal for the stove was washed before being stored in the bunker. This kind of treatment, which contributed to her longevity, was unheard of in the commercial fishing fleet.
On December 7, 1941, just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Boston Globe reported the purchase of Roseway by the Boston Pilots Association. In the article, the Pilots described Roseway as “sturdily constructed of oak, the craft is fully capable of withstanding the battering of heavy seas and onslaughts of terrific gales that pilot boats maintaining the lonely vigil off Boston Harbor are called upon to meet.” Clarence Doane, agent for the Boston Pilots, stated that Roseway “approaches as close as possible to specifications of the ideal pilot boat as any vessel. . . .”
In the spring of 1942, Roseway was fitted with a .50-caliber machine gun and assigned to the First Naval District (New England). All lighted navigational aids along the coast were turned off during the war, and it was up to the Pilots and Roseway to guide ships through the minefields and anti-submarine netting protecting the harbor. At the end of the war, the Coast Guard presented a bronze plaque to the pilots in honor of Roseway‘s exemplary wartime service.
She served the pilots well for 32 years and was the last pilot schooner in the United States when she was reluctantly retired in 1973, to be replaced by smaller steel powerboats.
In 1973, Roseway began her transformation to a Windjammer when she was bought by a group of Boston businessmen who rebuilt her below-decks to meet Coast Guard passenger-carrying requirements. In late 1974, she went up for sale and was purchased a year later in Boston by captains Jim Sharp and Orvil Young. In record time, the two captains had added fourteen cabins, creating accommodation for 36 passengers and were under way in the summer of 1975. In 1977, Roseway and the Adventure (built in Essex in 1926) starred in the television remake of Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous, filmed in Camden.
After captains Young and Sharp sold her, she continued in the tourist industry in Camden until a few years ago when she was repossessed by the First National Bank of Damariscotta.
In September 2002, the bank honored a request by the World Ocean School and donated Roseway to be used as a platform for the school. In the early morning hours of November 21, with a crew of two on board, she was harnessed to a tug boat in Rockland harbor and towed to Boothbay Harbor. The following day at the first high tide, she was hauled out of the water on the railway at Sample’s Shipyard where she underwent a complete restoration.
After a two-year restoration of the ship, the school embarked on the maiden voyage to the Great Lakes during the summer of 2005. This voyage was a trial for the ship as well as an opportunity to build support and exposure for the developing School.
In May 2006 Roseway and the World Ocean School relocated to Boston, Massachusetts where program development continued as Roseway was open to the public for the summer season doing day sails and charters.
In November of the same year, Roseway embarked on a passage to St. Croix USVI where she spent the winter serving island students. St. Croix has now become the new winter home port for Roseway. She still summers in the Northeast, primarily in Boston, providing education programs and day sails for the public.
After 84 years of service, she is one of only six original Grand Banks schooners, and the only schooner specifically designed to beat the Nova Scotians in the international fishing vessel races of the 1920s and 1930s. She is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark operating in Boston and St. Croix, USVI.
from http://www.worldoceanschool.org/all-about-roseway/roseway-history
E.J. Lefavour
Jon MacAdam, brother of Ben MacAdam of Gallery 5 on Madfish Wharf, is exhibiting a collection of his exquisite oil paintings, and will be having an opening reception this afternoon from 4:00-6:00pm. 77 Rocky Neck, Gallery 5 on Madfish Wharf.
End of season gallery sales and Wendie Demuth’s garage sale under the tent at Madfish Grille will continue through Monday, with remaining inventory prices cut dramatically. Great opportunity to get some early holiday shopping done.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
A few shots from the Preview Party for the Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00. A very nice selection of art and fine crafts (and jelly!). 
E.J. Lefavour
Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show
Better keep moving – Thanksgiving’s right around the corner.
E.J. Lefavour
Paul Korn & Sue Bumagin are great friends, and FOB’s. They sent their 70-year-old friends, Deanne and Jim Bonnar of Acton, on a birthday scavenger hunt, which included Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. A sweet, unique gift for their dear friends – kind of like a slow paced Cape Ann version of the Amazing Race. It was fun to be involved.
E.J. Lefavour
That Gloucester photographer, Judith Monteferrante’s photo of an African Spoonbill was chosen as photo of the week in Bird Watching Magazine?
This photo and more by Judith Monteferrante and Roger Seeley, as well as paintings by Roger Salisbury, from their recent African safari, are on display and for sale at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery through Thursday, October 6th. Gallery hours: noon to 8:00 pm. This particular, now famous, photo is beautiful and still available for purchase at a very reasonable price.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Good Morning Gloucester 