My View of Life on the Dock
Congratulations, Pauline! She is one of the inspiring women to be honored today at the State House in the 13th Annual Unsung Heroines Award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Gloucester can watch it live on app Periscope at 1pm! This will be the first time the Unsung Heroines event is livestreaming, and the first time Pauline has been inside the State House. Â
Open the Periscope app in your phone or tablet. Search for “MassCSW” 1pm live feed.
Cat Ryan submits-
I asked why Governor Baker selected Governor Volpe’s portrait for the Governor’s office at the State House.
Here’s an update and photograph from the State House curator, Susan Greendyke Lachevre:
“I have attached an image of the Volpe portrait, which was selected by the governor himself, as is customary, for display in his office. Governor Baker’s father served under Volpe while he was secretary of transportation In Washington…The State House is one of the oldest state capitols in the country, and the building is on the National Register. Renovations started almost as soon as it was occupied in 1798 with the coppering of the wooden dome. As a functioning seat of government and a popular visitor attraction, it gets a lot of wear and tear, and is constantly undergoing careful historic renovation or updating somewhere within its 600,000 square feet. I doubt if it will ever stop.”
Catherine adds:
The official Governor portrait for John Anthony Volpe was painted by Pietro Annigoni, 1963. Governor Romney and Governor Cellucci also picked the Volpe portrait by Pietro Annigoni. What about Governor Volpe? For his first term, Volpe selected a portrait of Governor Christian Herter. Herter’s father was artist Albert Herter who painted the murals in the House chamber. His grandfather, Christian, owned Herter Brothers, the legendary 19th-century cabinetmaking and decorating firm. I don’t have a picture of the Governor Herter portrait.
For Volpe’s second term, he displayed the Robert Gordon Hardie portrait of Governor Marcus Morton (1840-1841, 1843-1844).
For Volpe’s third term, he chose a portrait of Governor Leverett Saltonstall III. The Saltonstall portrait remained on view through 1975 for Governor Francis Sargent. At that time the predecessor portrait was displayed behind the governor.
I don’t have a great photo of the Saltonstall portrait, but I liked the signing ceremony with Hollywood star, Dorothy Lamour, visiting the State House promoting and presenting a War Bond prize:
“To the winners of the Ward Bond prize awarded to the first set of twin War Bond Babies Contest…Whereas the Motion Picture Industry has been designated as the spearhead of the US Treasury Department September Billion Dollar Drive for the sale of War Bonds and Stamps…extend thanks to the Massachusetts Division of the War Activities Committee and the undersigned managers and theater owners for untiring efforts…” The Governor’s office looks packed.
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I figured that if I could board the USCG Barque Eagle, I could visit the Massachusetts State House. I’m glad I did, because the City of Gloucester won the 2015 Commonwealth Award for “Creative Community” by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The ceremony was held in the capital’s Great Hall. About a dozen of us, elected officials and organizers from Gloucester’s two designated cultural districts, marched to the podium and onto the stage to accept the medal. Shown below, left to right, are: Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; Ann Margaret Ferrante, our State Representative; Sefatia Romeo Theken, Mayor of the City of Gloucester; and Bruce Tarr, our State Senator. I was glad to be there and proud to have been part of our accomplishments.
Good Morning Gloucester 