My View of Life on the Dock
Clearing lots 41 and 43 Cliff Road between Long Beach and Good Harbor Beach, across from the development (formerly Amelia’s and Olivia’s at the corner of Witham and Thatcher Roads).
After twenty plus years in need and many years of planning, the Gloucester High School field house deficiencies are no more. Restoration is underway on this 1.6 million capital improvement directed by Gloucester Public Works.
The old bleachers are being replaced with top notch product.
Issues with the original concrete and under laying have been resolved. “The new work will be done correctly.” This mean new hardwood flooring. New usable track. Gloucester DPW hired Capital construction for this big project.
Views of the progress July 2020– so exciting!
The old bleachers were punched out all over, holes like confetti. Rumor one I’ve heard was shot put tosses caused the damage (whether practice misses or on purpose, I’m not sure) Rumors two is the holes were a result of indoor baseball and softball practice. What do you think caused the holes? Cue up GMG poll.
Whatever the results, counting on community taking care of the new fieldhouse.
The Benjamin A. Smith Field House, aka Smith Field House, was formerly dedicated to Albert Bachelor.
Just past the corner of Witham and Thatcher before Long Beach Dairy Maid, clearing and surveying underway on two lots across from the former Amelia’s/Olivia’s space.
photos below – BEFORE (2019 and earlier) Water run off used to ice over before DPW work along this stretch
Debris from the demo of the 13,500 SF property (and parking lot) on 206/209 Main Street, formerly known as Cameron’s restaurant, is being trucked away from sorted piles, scrap metal here, mixed materials there. Action Inc. and North Shore Community Development Coalition ‘s new apartment building will meld in a few street level commercial spaces. (Read about the latticework of buildings on this stretch of Main here and see photos then and now below. I think it will be both changeless and changing as the saying goes.) I’m confident the charm and great karma of Cameron’s meals and happy celebrations will carry forward for the residents and business owners coming to this corner of Main and Elm.
In the meantime I was delighted to find some (poor) snapshots with my mom inside Cameron’s. I’m sure there are more and better Cameron’s photographs out there!
photo snapshot captions – fuzzy glimpses of Cameron’s restaurant interior on St. Patrick’s Day 2009 (kids playing fiddles now in their 20s!) & 2010. There must be photos out there!
The eagle was removed, repaired and painted in 2017 in preparation for a new and most fitting site– flying high for Cape Ann Veterans Services. Who carved Cameron’s iconic eagle sign?
GMG reader David Collins shares the answer about the artist who hand carved the eagle as reported in the Gloucester Daily Times 2017. Carl Goddard of Nahant carved the eagle in 1967.
Artist studios across the street will have a front row for the construction progress.
Click on Photo for Look Inside.
