Author: Pat D

Testing out the camera on my new phone. Annisquam is perfectly pretty for this.

On Route 133 in Ipswich and open year round! We were drawn in by the sign promising homemade pie and we were not disappointed. Nicely set up, local businesses represented (Virgilios for one!) And the pie pleased the taste buds. I recommend stopping by.

I recently attended one of the Beauport Hotel’s Fireside Chats featuring Lise Breen discussing Gloucester’s ties and history with slave trade. It was informative and interesting, especially since I learned there are additional Fireside Chats scheduled. Jeanne Hennessey, Director of Communications for the Beauport was hostess and let us know the upcoming dates and topics:

February 25 (Monday) Prudence Fish will be discussing Gloucester’s oldest homes.

March 4 (Monday) Tales and Ales (now that sounds intriguing!)

March 18 (Monday) Andrea Bodner from Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI)

6:30 – 8:30 pm Space is limited so email concierge@beauporthotel.com to reserve your seats. Make sure to mention your name and how many will be in attendance. Light refreshments (yummy) are offered. This series is sponsored by the Beauport Hotel, so kudos to them! (photo used with Beauport Hotel permission and taken by Jeanne Hennessey)

Did you miss the Valentine’s Day prime rib specials this week? Fear not…..prime rib specials are available from several local establishments. This is not intended to be a complete list: if you have something to add, please let us know! These are not regular menu items, but scheduled specials. Now, go get some for yourself!

The chart has been updated at information received by 2 PM Saturday Feb 16:

Summer is coming! Patiently waiting. This boardwalk seems to be resting as it awaits the return of summer.

Did you miss the Valentine’s Day prime rib specials this week? Fear not…..prime rib specials are available from several local establishments. This is not intended to be a complete list: if you have something to add, please let us know! These are not regular menu items, but scheduled specials. Now, go get some for yourself!

As you can see Wednesday is wide open for an enterprising restaurant to fill in.

Big or small, red rules on Valentine’s Day!

The 1943 photographs taken by Gordon Parks for the Farm Security Administration have been discussed in previous Good Morning Gloucester posts but I just thought it might be interesting to show you one example of a view of Main Street in 1943 and one taken 2019. Very different and yet much the same. Other photos from this collection can be viewed here.

I loved Donna’s pictures of the New England Boat show recently, but I have to add that we have our very own boat show right here most days! These were all taken recently on the same day and I had to take note of the variety of ways to be out on our harbor waters.

Adventure man has just announced his expected completion of his run around the perimeter of the US to raise money for sick children: March 27 he is expected to arrived in Gloucester! Save the date. Donate if you can. Follow Adventureman I. Facebook and Twitter.

We hadn’t been to Gloucester House in a while and we stopped in recently. It was quite relaxing.

Fisherman’s Reuben

Stuffed Sqaush

The view upon our return from New York!

This amazing man is running the perimeter of the United States to raise money for sick children. He plans to end his run right here in Gloucester. His latest update says he estimates only 806 miles remain! His goal is to run the equivalent of a marathon (26.2 miles) a day and if he keeps that pace, he will arrive sometime in early March.  Looking forward to being part of this epic journey:

https://www.facebook.com/AdventuremanJamieMcDonald/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARB_ri-VMXBDWDOjwnMn9dvNNS-8qF-vacdmvcGEOKzthm9SazJethRoVMnZFrqHIRHDtaHu1m1qkdDp&hc_ref=ARSB_Ma4EdlWGDp_HeACwu1HQZIl0ymvbGMKrzoauHE56xgnOiqmbgyAbmQbmL4ogh4&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBqUr2T9pJtVDzuVpnCK2bpSVWTx7rBHHRGACIWiqjX-3T2wIxLvhTZ_NFZ6VNsLtbY4ns8zkumesuUkQ5-CYWrDKaCtW8c9SZrNHNzcMiFw5mDvQEi5rMoZ-A2x1wvZNkaGO9HY2KlbumbeREXWdHNxI_0L4oc1-yJib0CVXRYogcCMXCJOrmSRPlHlCPadKE0BY8G0cF75kSoYxZhriWZTb6STIH5bseQ6vvKg6KK9FtcCH-83mt653RmU7EXy3kuGvjl_QUpA8Gy-eRgrX1C4zPbSBmXnPnPFH0mqFQU_nuwgaQaWmsPEOUyt6mVdyKLXv-f2i3CDSiQTCI02mFt2MUuUJpDlSFi3Q

Signs that say “Gloucester!”:

One of the interesting facets of family history research is the study of the neighborhood,  city and social history your ancestor experienced.  It brings to mind the Sesame Street song about the people in your neighborhood.

Lucky for those of us that like to study such things, there are plenty of ways to determine where your ancestors lived. One is the decennial US census records as they become available (1940 is the most recently available). This is part of the 1910 census record for  William E. Pierce and family who lived at 31 Sargent Street in 1910.

Over the years, the Pierce family lived at 389 Main (1900); 106 Maplewood (1920), 3 1/2 Alpine Court (1930) and 3 Smith St (1940). There were 12 children born to this couple, so there were years where additional room was needed such as seen here for 1910.  So I went to go see those neighborhoods as they look today:

I realize house numbers may have changed over the years, but today’s 389 Main:

Today’s 31 Sargent Street (1910)

Nearby 106 Maplewood (1920)

4 1/2 Alpine Court (1930)

3 Smith Street (1940 just 2 years prior to William’s death):

I am proud to learn immediate family members lived in and near these neighborhoods along with other hardworking residents. It makes me feel even more connected to our city.

We stopped at the Azorean late one afternoon specifically so that I could try one of their winter cocktails. I highly recommend the Winter White! Can’t really beat Portuguese soup and pizza. And, of course the bread……which disappeared too fast for a picture.

There’s something majestic about the Greasy Pole sitting out there. But, I wonder……when the Greasy Pole isn’t greasy for the Fiesta, is it still called the Greasy Pole? I suppose so since that’s what makes it infamous.

January 2019

January 2018

I love these iconic symbols displayed downtown. They have so much character.

The Bryan Adams song comes to mind when I see these stalwart reminders of days gone by.

An update on the travels of my crystal photo ball (I call her CB)!  Where in the world on Cape Ann has CB been?

The first one is a little difficult, so I’ll share an additional image as a hint.

These next two are much much easier!

This view available for a limited time: