The schooner near by sleepily dropping down the tide, the little boat slack-tow’d astern, The hurrying tumbling waves, quick-broken crests, slapping, The strata of color’d clouds, the long bar of maroon-tint away solitary by itself, the spread of purity it lies motionless in, The horizon’s edge, the flying sea-crow, the fragrance of salt marsh and shore mud, These became part of that child who went forth every day, and who now goes, and will always go forth every day.
From There Was A Child Went Forth, Walt Whitman
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On Monday afternoon behind Lobsta Land spotted these beautiful Egrets. Due to high tide and the trees the photo do not do these birds justice. Another sign of spring.
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We have started to hang the art pieces for this weekend’s Art Show. Here a tease of what you will see. Come on by to see the progress of renovating the schoolhouse.
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Love my end of the island around Goose Cove. Looking forward to this spot filling in with houseboats and paddling my kayak around with the Egrets soon!
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“The Neck” is coming to life. Rockport’s Bearskin Neck is slowly but surely opening for the season. First Top Dog on Sunday and then Roy Moore Lobster Company yesterday! Bring on the warm weather!
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Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Ward 4 City Councilor Valerie Gilman invite O’Maley Innovation Middle School parents and children and residents of the surrounding neighborhood to a community meeting to discuss options for improving walking safety to and from the School. The City anticipates applying for a Complete Streets grant in May to fund the construction of projects supported by the community.
Stephen Winslow, Project Manager for Mass in Motion Cape Ann, will present seven potential safety improvement options many that were developed through a “Safe Routes to School” planning study completed in 2012. The improvement options include:
Constructing a sidewalk along the south side of Reynard Street and improving the crosswalk at Reynard and Cherry Streets;
Widening the sidewalk along Cherry Street from Reynard to…
This view will be changing imminently! Today’s Motif Monday is the work on the Boulevard.
The marvelous engineering and construction for the boulevard is a HUGE story. In all the collective excitement to walk this way, let’s remember to take a moment to acknowledge this feat.
Mike Hale, Gloucester’s Director of Public Services, was hired in July of 1999, the very same year that this ambitious boulevard infrastructure planning and funding search began for this project. It was funded in 2014. That means the current project timeline spanned 4 Mayors, administration, staff and city councils. The construction has been exceptionally well managed and I predict it will be or should be nationally recognized with awards. I have been documenting the progress and in the coming days will post several tributes, contemporary views, historic photos and background to rev up anticipation and respect.
Coincidentally, April 16, 2017 will mark the 94th anniversary of an important piece of the boulevard’s construction.
On that day in history, Gloucester’s city council approved the purchase of two lots, the Grant and Low properties:
“Whereas it is the desire of the board of park commissioners of the city of Gloucester to take in fee by purchase or otherwise certain land in said Gloucester lying between Western Avenue and the sea,
“And whereas, the said board has estimated the expenses of acquiring the same to be $8000,
“It is hereby ordered that the sum of $8000 be and hereby is appropriated from the $90,000 Western Avenue act of 1922 to the board of park commissioners as provided by law for the purpose of acquiring and laying out as a public park such land as the said board of park commissioners consider desirable therefore, being the land as shown on a plan entitled ‘Proposed taking for highway and park purposes, Gloucester, Mass, dated April 16, 1923, John H. Griffin, City Engineer,’ having reference to that portion as shown on said plan as is proposed to be taken for park purposes.” I’ve added the bold emphasis to note the big vision of Western Avenue as a public park and extension of Stage Fort in 1923.
The significant original investment was tangible and long lasting, hallmarks of any successful public works project. Did the Boulevard improve the quality of life in Gloucester? It wasn’t easy. Houses and roads were moved.
Photo caption: “A VIEW NOW OF THE PAST. Most of us are familiar with the Above View. it Shows the Dwellings which Once Lined the Western Avenue Waterfront Before Work was Started Constructing the New Boulevard.”
These photographs were published in August 1923 and retrieved from the Gloucester Daily Times microfiche reel at Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library.
The caption below describes Kent Circle “where grand stand has been erected for the review of the parades” for Gloucester’s tercentenary celebration.
Awaiting full access in 2017 is a mere blip of an inconvenience when considering how fundamental the Boulevard is for Gloucester. Its benefits are priceless.
You probably remember in January my hubster Neil’s trip to Mt. Washington Observatory was cancelled due to the impassable auto road and high winds, well this was his “make-up” weekend. It was a little touch and go on the morning of the ascent because of the 10 inches of snow they were receiving but after a 2 hr delay they made the 2 hour ride up. He is exhausted and still thawing out, but he had an awesome adventure hiking around the observatory!!
Almost to the top!
His Chariot for the weekend
Rime ice on a post going up
Venturing around the outside of the Observatory
Yukon Cornelius himself!
Skiers who made the hike to the summit then skied down
A mild 40-60 mph winds
Rime ice on the trees
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Good Morning Gloucester 