Blake Bell Co.

BLAKE BELL

This is the bell in the front yard of the Community Church of East Gloucester on Chapel Street. I visited the Church last Sunday, but before that I had no idea it existed. I found the bell interesting, and when I did some research on it, I found it very interesting. Blake Bell Co. dates back to the 1800’s and William Blake was an apprentice of Paul Revere.

“William Blake was an apprentice of Paul Revere. William Blake was involved with, and owned, several metal casting companies in private & with partners from 1820 to 1890.

In this historic time period, firms opened & closed based on the individual financer decision to fund, to continue funding, or to withdraw funding, in order to participate in another financial endeavor. If a financial partner withdrew, it was necessary for the principal owner, usually the craftsman, to locate another individual as a source of funding. A change in the funding partner typically required a name change. (Today, this funding is accomplished by the stock market.)
In 1823, Paul Revere III, Wm. Blake & John Sullivan founded the Boston & Braintree Co. The bells cast are not dated. This same year, the foundry’s name was changed to Boston Copper Co. The Boston Copper Co. closed in 1830. Boston Copper Co. bells are dated.

In 1830-1868, Wm. Blake partnered with Henry N. Hooper, & Richardson forming the Hooper, Blake & Richardson Company located in Boston, casting bells.
In 1859 to 1890, Wm. Blake & Henry Hooper formed another bell foundry: Henry N. Hooper & Co., also known as Hooper & Co. in Boston. Hooper bells dated 1859 are located at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Lynn, Mass., and Old Round Church in Richmond, Vermont.

W. Blake & Company located at Allen Streets in Boston, Massachusetts was in operation from 1820 to 1890. At that time, he operated under the names of W. Blake & Co. and Blake Bell Co. In 1825, Blake cast the first set of chimes by an American foundry. (Previously, all chimes were cast in Europe.) Two chimes were cast: one of eight bells and one of eleven bells. The largest bell weighed 3,000 pounds.

In 1881, the Blake, Lamb & Co. at Brighton & Allen Streets in Waterbury, Connecticut was in operation. Little is recorded of this company.”

Source: https://americanbell.org/aba-forum/topic/blake-bell-company/

E.J. Lefavour

EXCITING NEWS ~ THE SCHOONER ADVENTURE JOINS THE SCHOONER CHALLENGE!

Len Burgess shares the following ~

Big News… the Essex-Built Schooner ADVENTURE has agreed to join the 4th annual Schooner Challenge! Grab up a bunch of your friends and add to the fun and join the crews of the ADVENTURE, the ARDELLE, and the LANNON in the famous Schooner Challenge to help support the preservation of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum’s Schooner ‘Evelina M. Goulart’. Tickets will go fast! Sign up NOW.  Visit the Museum secure website: http://www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org/ or CALL Marcia at 978-375-3337. Details are in the poster.


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Cape Ann Reads updates including: Want some help with your writing for your picture book entry?

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1)If you asked us: “I have a story to submit for the picture book contest, and would like to participate in a writing group, is there one?”  You were not alone. We are pleased to announce:

Free writers workshops all ages at Sawyer Free Library

3rd Wednesday each month May – October, 1-2pm

Led by Amanda Cook of the Gloucester Writers Center

Register here. For more information: contact Deborah Kelsey, Director, Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Public Library kelsey@sawyerfreelibrary.org. The libraries will be hosting informational help sessions as needed and requested leading right up to the contest submission deadline which will fall in November 2016.

2)Mark your calendars for Cape Ann Reads programs

Thursday, May 12, DAISY NELL, 6pm, TOHP Burnham Library, 245 Western Avenue, Essex Local author, singer, songwriter discusses the creation of her three picture books

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Saturday, May 21, MOTIF#1 DAY, Building Poetry with Picture books, 9AM-5PM. Visit the Rockport Public Library to design, photograph and display poetry created by stacking together picture books.

Saturday June 4, Round -trip double Story Walk,  10am-2pm, Manchester public Library and Manchester Historical Museum. This self-guided story walk of two great picture books will be available starting at 10 and will be accessible throughout the day. Picture book lovers of all ages are invited to walk and read and act the route together. Featured books: Stella, the Star of the Sea by Mary Louise Gay and Storm Whale by Benji Davies.

For the complete list of events for the year and all the latest information check the website capeannreads.wix/picturebooks. Additional programs may be added to the calendar.

Cape Ann Reads is a collaboration among the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, Manchester Public Library, Rockport Public Library and TOHP Burnham Library in Essex.

Set oars!

Gloucester Gig Rowers crew setting out for their first Essex River Race practice. 

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Photo credit: Marielle Yost

http://www.gloucestergigrowers.com/

http://www.blackburnchallenge.com/essex.html

Neptune’s Harvest is up for Green America’s People and Planet Award

Hi Joey,

I know how you’re always promoting all things Gloucester, so I thought you’d like to know Neptune’s Harvest is up for Green America’s People and Planet Award!

Here is the link, so you can see what it is all about and if it’s worthy of a shout out on GMG. It’s quite the honor to be selected for this national award. http://www.greenamerica.org/green-business-people-and-planet-award/

If you can post this, that’d be great.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or need anything else. There is also a link on our Neptune’s Harvest Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/neptunesharvest/

Thanks Joe, and I hope all is well,

Ann

Ann Molloy

Sales Director

Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer

Save Our Shores Ribbon Cutting

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An extraordinary event took place this evening on the Back Shore. A ribbon was cut by Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken to commemorate  the successful public campaign by the citizen organization, Save our Shores Gloucester, to raise $100,000 to purchase and protect 4 lots at 166-178 Atlantic Road from development.The land will will be protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement.

Thank you to Save Our Shores Gloucester from a grateful community, our children and our grandchildren.

Save Our Shores Gloucester (SOSG)

Roger Armstrong

Hazel Hewitt

Marty Del Vecchio

Dave Manley

Mark and Pam Poulin

Barbara Silberman

WONDERFUL EVENT FOR NUBAR ALEXANIAN’S BOOK “WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST!”

Despite the chilly winds and rain, a fantastic group of friends, fans, and well-wishers came out for Nubar’s book signing, When the Fish Came First. All throughout the evening there were waiting lines to purchase books! Thanks to Karen Ristuben and the Rocky Neck Cultural Center for hosting this very special community event.

Nubar Alexanian Book signing c Kim SmithHonoring Linzee and Beth Coolidge

Nubar Alexanian Book signing Angela Sanfillipo -3 c Kim SmithAngela Sanfillipo and Nubar

Nubar Alexanian Book signing -3 c Kim SmithNubar signing his book Stones in the Road: Photographs of Peru for Ricardo and Diana Fernandez

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFDFi_-jykE/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFDEWrKDyhx/

Nubar Alexanian Book signing Angela Sanfillipo c Kim SmithMemories from December 1979 – Angela, her husband, daughter, and three-month old baby daughter’s christening