Good Morning Gloucester

Traveling home after work yesterday post storms to find a sundog/rainbow glowing around the Boulevard so I took a minute to take some “His and Hers” pics!  

The dark and rainy morning has put me in a reflective mood.  Given the historic damage done by Hurricane Florence and the uncertainty following the gas disaster in Andover and Lawrence, my mind turns to other monumental disasters.  One hundred years ago the Flu Pandemic reached into Gloucester and the surrounding areas.  Each day in late September and through mid October, the newspaper reported on the growing number of flu deaths.  While I do not know the final numbers, the highest number I saw reported was 180 people within about month as of October 14 1918. It must have been very frightening for all but it seems the city handled the pandemic admirably.

This is an example from the Gloucester Daily Times Sept 17 1918 of the precautions taken.  The microfilm quality isn’t great, but it gets the idea across.

As we see from Florence and in Andover/Lawrence, disasters tend to bring out the best in people and I imagine this did the same at the time.  Disasters past and present remind us to be kind, take good care and stay vigilant.

Submitted by Marcia Huttner

At the foretopmast of COLUMBIA _ Gloucester Schooner Festival Parade of Sail

[Photo by Phyllis Bezanson]

It was eighty years ago, while GERTUDE L THEBAUD was racing BLUENOSE in the International Fishermen’s Races, that a photo of Sterling Hayden, navigator on THEBAUD, appeared in the Boston Post.  So many women swooned that Hollywood noticed, brought him to the screen, and then, in 1964, cast him as Jack D Ripper in Dr. Strangelove.

One never knows who’s eyeing Good Morning Gloucester.  

Al Bezanson

The $25 K tickets are available at the Chamber, they are going fast. If you want one call us at the Chamber 978-283-1601 or come into the chamber and pick one up.

Just a reminder that lots of the Chamber members have tickets too, so that’s another way to get one.

It’s a great night with two dinners with every ticket. Also a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and more. Call us today!