My View of Life on the Dock
Good Harbor Beach Inn is open seasonally, 1 Salt Island Road, Gloucester, MA (978)-283-1489 / TOLL FREE 1-87-SEASHELL. Snack bar opens after May 21
Also known as bootlace seaweed, mermaid’s tresses, mermaid’s fishing line, dead man’s rope, and
“Sea Whip: Chorda Filum resembles a long whip which can be from 10 to 70 cm long and is very deep brown. it grows in a long strand from a disc holdfast. It looks much like rope or cord, and hence its name. It is found in the sublittoral area or often washed ashore after heavy wave action. It ranges from new Jersey to northern Labrador.” Sarah Fraser Robbins and Clairice Yentsch, the Sea is All About Us, 1973. Chorda filum was not present when I wrote about seaweed on Long Beach after the 2016 fall Storm Hermine.
What a dreamy, atmospheric and wide open beach this Easter morning. Prior high tide reached more than half way into post and rope refuge sites for the piping plovers, though plenty of stretches of dry sand moguls remained. The birds were foraging at the water’s edge.
The 2019 Gloucester Preservation Awards
Press Release from the Gloucester Historical Commission
The Gloucester Historical Commission invites the public to attend the annual 2019 Preservation Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 19, 2 to 4 pm at the Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. The event features a slide show of winning projects and comments by recipients.
May is National Historic Preservation Month, and each year the Historical Commission recognizes outstanding cultural heritage preservation, restoration, and education projects.
This year’s award recipients are:
Bryan Melanson – Restoration & Rehabilitation, for his cooperation and responsiveness as a developer to historic preservation on the Back Shore.
Ross Burton & Lanesville Community Center – Restoration & Rehabilitation, for their reconstruction of Virginia Lee Burton’s writing cottage.
Lillian Olmsted – Stewardship, for her research and vigilance as a citizen seeking to preserve the historic character of her neighborhood.
Magnolia Historical Society – Adaptive Reuse, for the rehabilitation of the Blynman School as their headquarters and a local history museum.
Bernadette Fendrock & Alan D’Andrea– Restoration & Rehabilitation, for restoration of an architecturally significant house at 24 Beach Rd.
1623 Studios – Education & Outreach, for their programming on the history and historic preservation of Gloucester and Cape Ann.
Manship Artists Residency + Studios – Adaptive Reuse, for their rehabilitation of the Paul Manship estate as working space for artists and sculptors.
James Ryan – Preserving Gloucester History, for his annotated hand-drawn maps of Cape Ann’s granite quarries and neighborhoods.
Richard & Kathy Clark – Stewardship, for their faithful volunteer efforts on the restoration of the Civil War-era Clark Cemetery.
Annisquam Yacht Club – Restoration and Rehabilitation, for their extensive rehabilitation of a historically significant recreational facility.
Meetinghouse Foundation – Education and Outreach, for its cultural programs and collaborative preservation of a historic church building.
Appreciation Award for Individual Lifetime Achievement– To be announced.
Certificates are awarded based on the following criteria:
Preserved neighborhood history through research, writing, or art
Award categories include the following.
Gloucester, Mass. A great teacher at Gloucester High School, Shaun Goulart, creates a local history scavenger hunt/trivia game for his 9th grade students that takes place weekly for 6 weeks.
ANSWERS TO SHAUN GOULART’S LOCAL HISTORY SCAVENGER HUNT TRIVIA WEEK SIX. THIS CHALLENGE IS THE FINAL WEEK IN THE SERIES. GO BACK HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE WEEK 6 QUESTIONS ONLY.
The challenge Week 6 was to locate the historic map on Cape Ann Museum’s Fitz Henry Lane on Line and study it closely to comb through location prompts. This is a great family activity for all ages. It’s a bit eye spy or Where’s Waldo mixed with atlas map fun. The students were tasked with photographing the same sites as they appear today and creating a labeled presentation.
Visit CAPE ANN MUSEUM FITZ HENRY LANE ON LINE resource and scroll down to the correct map here
Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport (detail of Harbor Village)
Henry Francis Walling (F. Walling)
1851
44 x 34 in.
Henry Francis Walling, Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport, Essex Co. Massachusetts. Philadelphia, A. Kollner, 1851
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
“Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport, Massachusetts. H.F. Walling, Civil Engineer. John Hanson, Publisher. 1851. Population of Gloucester in 1850 7,805. Population of Rockport in 1850 3,213.”
Map detail = segment of Harbor Village portion of map showing Lane-Winter property on Duncan’s Point.
| Question – find on 1851 historic map | ANSWER- NOW (2019) | |
| 1 | Duncan’s Point | Maritime Gloucester / Railways (former FG Low’s & Eli F. Stacy’s whf) |
| 2 | Five Pound Island | State Fish Pier |
| 3 | Front Street (present sign must be in picture) | Main and Short |
| 4 | Middle Street (present sign must be in picture) | Middle Street |
| 5 | High Street | School Street and Proctor |
| 6 | Fort Defiance | The Fort |
| 7 | Vincent’s Cove | West End Main Street and Rogers section all fill / Gorton’s, Americold, etc |
| 8 | Town House | Legion |
| 9 | Gloucester House | Brick building corner of Washington and Main (Puritan House) |
| 10 | Two cemeteries | 1)cemetery next to Amvets on Prospect 2)St. Ann’s |
| 11 | Hospital | up Granite Street veers right to Blyman |
| 12 | Town Landing | Same (St. Peter’s) |
| 13 | Two bowling alleys | 1)on Stacy Boulevard (see Cordage manufactury below)
2) on the Fort |
| 14 | 3 schools | study the map! 1)by Univ Church and Eng H& School on Church off Middle on old map 2)looks like where Central Grammar is 3)Prospect and School where apartments are now 4)corner Washington and Gould Ct. |
| 15 | Train station | Roughly train platform now |
| 16 | Engine house | Beyond train platform- roughly where Stop & Shop is on RR Ave |
| 17 | Canal Street | Stacy Boulevard (Tavern side) |
| 18 | Cordage Manufacturing | Ditto |
| 19 | Beach Street | Commercial Street (behind Beauport Hotel back to water) |
View back to Market Basket, April 2019. Heading into its third month, Aspen Dental, 501 Gloucester Crossing, Gloucester, Mass, openend January 31.
“we welcome all mouths”
April 2019
Clearing at Grant Circle on the Cape Ann Museum properties revealed a carpet of grape hyacinth scilla (correction thanks to helpful GMG reader comment). The patch across the street is a favorite stretch of spring.
Views of and from Rogers Street Theater (former Empire space/Floating Lotus entrance on Main) before the show
An Evening of Dorothy Parker: Staged Reading Celebrating Her Life & Work
A collabortive presentation by Carole Frohlich, David McCaleb & Nick Neyeloff with Sally Nutt & Lauren Suchecki
Rogers Street Theater, 68 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA. www.RogersStreetTheater.org
Four expressive actors linger, pause and saunter through Parker bon mots and excerpts from her poems, prose, plays, reviews and ruminations. Snippets of her biography accompany segues, sparingly and effectively. The evening works for ardent fans or uninitiated because of the writing, staging and nuanced interpretation. This reading and fine acting honored Parker’s immense and undeniable writing and observational talent, and evoked her mastery of internal dialogue. Felt poignant, fresh and relevant.
For six weeks I’ve been posting local history trivia questions from Shaun Goulart’s creative weekly scavenger project for his 9th grade history class at Gloucester High School one week behind the students’ pace.
This is the final week! The questions are posted today and answers posted Thursday. Good luck!
Using Cape Ann Museum Fitz Henry Lane resource: Go to: http://fitzhenrylaneonline.org/historical_material/?section=Maps
Search for Map Title: 1851 Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport (detail of Harbor Village)
Directions for students
– Duncan’s Point
– Five Pound Island
– Front Street- (present day street sign must be in the picture)
– Middle Street- (present day street sign must be in the picture)
– High Street- (present day street sign must be in the picture)
– Fort Defiance
– Vincent’s Cove
– Town House
– Gloucester House
– 2 Cemeteries (.5 point each)
– Hospital
– Town Landing
– 2 Bowling Alleys (.5 pt each)
– 3 Schools (.5 pt each)
– Train Station (look closely)
– Engine House
– Canal Street
– Cordage Manufacturing
– Beach Street
Gloucester, Mass. A great teacher at Gloucester High School, Shaun Goulart, creates a local history scavenger hunt/trivia game for his 9th grade students that takes place weekly for 6 weeks. We’re taking the challenge paced one week after the students.
ANSWERS TO SHAUN GOULART’S LOCAL HISTORY SCAVENGER HUNT TRIVIA WEEK FIVE
1)What year was there an ordinance to establish a Police department in Gloucester? ANSWER: 1873 (according to the Gloucester Time Line archives book and the great Gloucester police website here : “In 1799, Isaac Elwell was appointed Inspector of Police. This was a term first used in Boston 14 years earlier to describe the men appointed to keep track of the night watchmen who patrolled the city after dark watching for fires. Constables assisted Elwell and other men who followed him as Inspector of Police until about 1847 when a petition was received by the Selectmen asking for some additional policemen to assist the Inspector of Police. Around 1850 the first night police were used. Only a few of the policemen were paid as the rest either served without compensation or were only paid for working during special occasions. In 1873, a city ordinance establishing a police department was put into effect with nine officers under the leadership of City Marshal William Cronin.”)
2)The original building used as a jail prior to 1889 was located on Rogers Block, take a picture of this area present day with a member in it. ANSWER: Main Street (harbor side) from Duncan to Porter
3)Where was the first Gloucester police station built in 1889, take a picture with a member in it at the location. ANSWER: corner of Duncan and Roger
4)Veterans of what war had a hall for them located on the third floor of the building? ANSWER: Spanish American in the police station that was built in 1899. City Hall Read about bronze veteran tribute plaques (including Spanish American) at City Hall here
1971/1973 newspaper clipping from Sawyer Free
5)What year was the present day police station erected? Take a picture of it with a member in it. ANSWER: 1973
6)Go to the exterior of the police station and take a picture with an object that would be personal to Mr. Goulart (keyword: Goulart) ANSWER: Officer Jerome G. Goulart memorial bench
7)Take a picture with a Gloucester Police officer in uniform. Answ. How cool are these officer baseball cards!
“Kops-n-Kids” is a Gloucester Police Department (Official) initiative where officers visit Gloucester Schools to interact with students during recess & gym class
8)Ask the cop: What is the code word for “lunch break” over the radio. Submit the answer. ANSWER: 1093
9)For a brief time the “Old Stone Jug” served as a jail, take a picture in front of it with a member in it. What is this building known as? ANSWER: Fitz Henry Lane former house and studio
10) Where does the term cop come from? ANSWER: not definitive though according to snopes meaning “nab” closest: “Instead, the police-specific use of “cop” made its way into the English language in far more languid fashion. “Cop” has long existed as a verb meaning “to take or seize,” but it didn’t begin to make the linguistic shifts necessary to turn it into a casual term for “police officer” until the mid-19th century. The first example of ‘cop’ taking the meaning “to arrest” appeared in print around 1844, and the word then swiftly moved from being solely a verb for “take into police custody” to also encompassing a noun referring to the one doing the detaining. By 1846, policemen were being described as “coppers,” the ‘-er’ ending having been appended to the “arrest” form of the verb, and by 1859 “coppers” were also being called “cops,” the latter word a shortening of the former.”- snopes
Prior Posts Continue reading “RESULTS Week 5 Police | #greatteacher Mr. Goulart’s local history hunt #GloucesterMA #TBT”
Consideration of Dogtown for National Historic Register failed to pass last night 2 to 6 (and one recused). 1623 Studios (formerly Cape Ann TV) films city council meetings so if you missed the meeting you’ll be able to catch it there.
This just in from Lisa Smith: “1623 Studios recorded last night’s City Council Meeting, which had a hearing about Dogtown, and it will air on Channel 20 on Saturday at 1pm and 11:30 pm.” Once 1623 Studio edits, they’re uploaded to its youtube channel here.
And here’s a link to Ray Lamont’s coverage in Gloucester Daily Times posted on line now and in print tomorrow.
Twentieth century gift to the city by Roger W. Babson
a few prior Dogtown posts-
April 28 Annual Dogtown day – ribbon cutting and some reasearch results
Oct 2017 there was a public presentation about an archaelogical consultation and information about historic designation: Before Dogtown was Dogtown
Over six weeks I’m posting local history trivia questions from Shaun Goulart’s creative weekly scavenger project for his 9th grade history class at Gloucester High School– except we’ll be one week behind the students’ pace. He explains that the “questions are multi-layered and usually have an image required in the submission. All questions will deal with Gloucester’s local history. I recommended to the students to utilize friends and family so your student may be reaching out to you for help. It is a competition and the prizes will be calculated into the Term 4 grade” for the students.
Local History Scavenger Hunt Week 5 (3/31)
Prior Posts
4/7/19 Week Five Questions – Gloucester Police
4/4/19 Week Four Results
3/31/19 Week Four Questions- Gloucester Inventors
3/24/19 Week Three Questions- Gloucester Firsts
3/17/19 Week Two questions- Defending Gloucester
3/14/19 Week One results
3/10/19 Week One trivia questions
Gloucester, Mass. Great teacher at Gloucester High School, Shaun Goulart, creates a local history scavenger hunt trivia game for his 9th grade students that takes place weekly for 6 weeks. We’re taking the challenge paced one week after the students.
ANSWERS TO SHAUN GOULART’S LOCAL HISTORY TRIVIA WEEK FOUR
How did you do? Week two delved into Gloucester’s famous inventors. Stop here if you prefer to go back to see Week 4 questions only
Mr. Goulart’s Local History Trivia Scavenger Hunt Week 4 Inventors
1.John Hays Hammond Jr. “Jack”
Go to the location of his home and take a picture with a member in it.
Answer: “Over the course of his professional career, he was awarded over 800 foreign and domestic patents resulting from over 400 of his inventions. Many of these began in radio control before extending to electronics, naval weapons, national defense, as well as various consumer products.” – Hammond Castle
“In connection with his radio researches Jack obtained most important patents for receiving and broadcasting and these he sold to RCA…” John Hays Hammond, Sr
Hammond Castle – I hope that one day the Trustees and Historic New England add this as a shared property among their preservation jewels, along with the Natalie Hammond property and much of the parents’ estate, Lookout Hill, with some portion of admission for the City. At one point Hammond Castle was one of the top attractions in Massachusetts.
2.Clarence Birdseye
Go to the location where his company was and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
Answer: flash freezing
3.Augustus H. Wonson
Go to the location of his grave and take a picture with a member in it.
Answer: Mt. Pleasant cemetery
What did he invent?
Answer: Augustus S Wonson invented antifouling copper paint to protect boats. Tarr & Wonson’s was established in 1863. The former factory and harbor icon is now Ocean Alliance.
Paint Factory Past/Present
Paint Factory Ocean Alliance_2018 09 28_ Goetemann artist Deborah Redwood public art – whale’s tail in process_Gloucester, MA © catherine ryan
4.William Nelson Le Page
Go to the location where his company was after it moved from Rockport and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
Answer: Le Page’s glue from fish waste (established 1876)
Answer: Castle Manor Inn
Over six weeks I’m posting local history trivia questions from Shaun Goulart’s creative weekly scavenger project for his 9th grade history class at Gloucester High School– except we’ll be one week behind the students’ pace. He explains that the “questions are multi-layered and usually have an image required in the submission. All questions will deal with Gloucester’s local history. I recommended to the students to utilize friends and family so your student may be reaching out to you for help. It is a competition and the prizes will be calculated into the Term 4 grade” for the students.
1. John Hays Hammond Jr.
Go to the location of his home and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
2. Clarence Birdseye
Go to the location where his company was and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
3. Augustus H. Wonson
Go to the location of his grave and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
4. William Nelson Le Page
Go to the location where his company was after it moved from Rockport and take a picture with a member in it.
What did he invent?
Prior Posts
3/26 /19 Week Three Results
3/24/19 Week Three Questions- Gloucester Firsts
3/21/19 Week Two results
3/17/19 Week Two questions- Defending Gloucester
3/14/19 Week One results
3/10/19 Week One trivia questions
Jason Burroughs Goetemann Artist Residency 2019 – Gloucester Invitational Artist month of May opening talk May 6th
Whether as sculptor, painter, muralist, mixed media or assemblage fine artist, Gloucester-born Jason Burroughs works across media with a signature touch. Can’t wait to see what happens from this residency. Follow him on Instagram- he’s been doing a weekly sketch on his instagram page @jazzyjburroughs
Ever since I saw his inventive stepped paintings pre 2017, I wonder what would Jason do here-
2017 – inventive sculpture paintings stepped away from flat and vertical surfaces
or just about anywhere! I’ve written about the monumental walls at O’Maley ideal for professionally trained artists that are former Gloucester O’Maley grads–like Jason– at the start of their careers. Murals are common public art attractions. To date I have not seen one mural initiative with that focus. Clandenstine street art and graffiti art can break through. (Some practitioners are diametrically opposed to that commercial conceit.) Elite global street artists and muralists command hundreds of thousands of dollars through private and corporate sponsorships. Commissions this scale for young artists with degrees begin at $16,000. That’s a great our town endeavor/grant investment.
Read about the Parsons Street murals (wall) here.
Established in 2015, this one month residency is offered by committee invitation to an inspiring and highly deserving Gloucester artist. It is understood that artistic inspiration can be difficult to attain when work and family take precedence. The artist is provided with a live-work studio for one month. Read more here about Goetemann juried and invitational artist residencies
The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck is open Thursday-Sunday. Seasonal Hours are: June through August 12-6pm, September through May 12-4pm.
Gallery 53 at Rocky Neck, 53 Rocky Neck Avenue is open seasonally May – October, seven days a week, 11am-6pm, Thurs-Sat until 8pm.
Visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org for more information.
Gloucester, Mass.- Great teacher at Gloucester High School, Shaun Goulart, creates a local history scavenger hunt trivia game for his 9th grade students that takes place weekly for 6 weeks. We’re taking the challenge one week after the students. Good luck!
ANSWERS TO SHAUN GOULART’S LOCAL HISTORY TRIVIA WEEK THREE
How did you do? Week three was all about some famous Gloucester FIRSTS and there were many locations. Stop here if you prefer to go back to see Week 3 questions only.
Principal Albert Bacheler CENTRAL GRAMMAR
PURITAN HOUSE built in 1810 by Col. James Tappan* is a historic house at 3 Washington Street and 2 Main Street. Also known as: Tappan’s Hotel, Gloucester Hotel (“Tappan’s Folly”), Atlantic House, Mason House, Community House, Capt Bills (1960s-70s), Puritan House & Pub (1977), Blackburn Tavern (1978-00s) *Tappan was taught by Daniel Webster
Excerpt from prior GMG post (read it here) about scenic tours by bike 1885: “And now let’s take our wheel for a short run along our harbor road to East Gloucester, and note the many points of interest on the way. The start is made at the Gloucester Hotel–the headquarters of all visiting wheelmen in the city–at the corner of Main and Washington streets; from thence the journey takes us over the rather uneven surface of Main street, going directly toward the east. In a few minutes we pass the Post Office on the left, and soon leave the noisy business portion of the street behind us, then, e’re we are aware of it, we reach and quickly climb the slight eminence known as Union Hill…” This brick building at Main and Washington now features Tonno Restaurant. Notice the chimneys and same stairs as when it was the Gloucester Hotel. The Blackburn Tavern sign was just marketing; this building has no connection. Blackburn’s Tavern is now Halibut Point restaurant at the other end of Main Street.
“RIGG’S HOUSE” 27 Vine Street (Annisquam) Thomas Riggs House purchased in 1661
oldest house on Cape Ann, Gloucester, MA
Look under the year on cenotaph surrounding Man At Wheel
Our Lady of Good Voyage – read more http://gloucester.harborwalk.org/story-posts/sp-20/
Subshop with a view- through Destinos window
1644! – 103 Centennial Drive – top of Centennial Drive near the train bridge
Gloucester, Ma.
There is much exciting work in progress along Stacy Boulevard including welcome tributes to women. Incremental aesthetic improvements, public access, ease of movement, and celebration of culture require many hands and deliver a huge impact. Here is a brief description of the special current projects and some people involved.
“Remarkable support comes from volunteer expertise like award winning designer Ann Geraldi Johnson and Susan Kelly and the Generous Gardeners who have stepped up as the city’s groundskeepers on the boulevard.” Mike Hale, Director of Public Works
The Elizabeth Gordon Smith (Betty Smith) garden was cleared and the small Picture garden past the boulevard tennis courts was unearthed. Because Gloucester garden groups pre-date 1900, it’s especially moving to see the work in progess shoring up inspiring legacy connections. Incredible volunteers past and present serve the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW). Stacy Boulevard & Stage Fort Park advocates like Betty Smith, Louise Loud & the Gloucester Civic & Garden Council tended and protected Gloucester’s natural beauty — the very same grounds that are so lovingly served now by dynamos like Ann Gilardi Johnson and Susan Kelly & the Generous Gardeners. Plaques for Lucy Brown Davis, tribute by her sister Catalina Davis, and for Lucy P. Rogers ” president of the Gloucester’s Woman’s Club 1927-29″ are nearby.
photos: Betty Smith garden IN PROGRESS February (overgrowth and clearing underway–poison ivy was found) vs. March and can’t wait to experience the AFTER!
Keep What Works at the Library – “Keep What Works at the Library”, Martha Bowen letter to the editor, Gloucester Daily Times, March 23, 2019
Since the last meeting February 26, 2019
Continue reading “Sawyer Free Library new building presentation March 27”
John and Phyllis Linquata announce their new business, Serendipity’s Playhouse, Cape Ann’s first indoor play space! Join them at 4:30PM on Friday, March 29, 2019 for the Grand Opening!
Serendipty’s Playhouse
88 Bass Avenue
Gloucester, Massachusetts
(978) 283-4335
After a year of renovations & permits and the challenges & kismet of converting a former tile store into a family- friendly destination, Serendipity Playhouse is open! The entryway tile design became a plus, matching the new vision at the site. This welcome playland features amusing attractions, an expansive wooden climbing structure, pint-sized imaginative activity stations, foam pit, ride on train, airplane see-saw, and a separate padded toddler space. Families can sign up for extra programs like Zoomba’s “Zoombini” package on Saturdays at 9AM.
The Linquatas sussed out an ideal location with plenty of parking and neighboring businesses that are a natural fit. Families and caregivers can refuel, meet up and juggle errands with a play break: Cape Ann Coffees is right next door; Charlie’s Place is across the street; Stop & Shop plaza is out back; and Good Harbor Beach is a walk away. The Linquatas are Gloucester residents and parents which is evident because 1)see their location intel and 2) the convenient hours…they open early enough for those families with wee early risers. The new venture is very much a family endeavor. John is running the day to day operations. Phyllis dreamed of opening an indoor wonderland and brings her professional expertise as a preschool teacher into building the business. Their daughter is helping out after school. They are determined to provide an active indoor play haven that’s super clean and engaging.
Loren Doucette Temple Within 2019 35″ x 58″ acrylic and shelf with pieces
Good Morning Gloucester 