Join the Local History Research Center at the Sawyer Free Library to celebrate the launch of Mapping Memory: Gloucester’s Oral History Project, a new community initiative to collect, preserve, and share the personal stories that define Gloucester’s neighborhoods.
Mayor Lundberg will provide opening remarks. After, join neighbors for a game of Gloucester Neighborhood Jeopardy!
Light refreshments will be served.
About:
This project will gather first-hand accounts from longtime residents, community leaders, and underrepresented voices through recorded oral history interviews. Mapping Memory will build a digital archive of interviews, transcripts, and mementos documenting life in Annisquam, Bay View, Downtown, East Gloucester, Folly Cove, Lanesville, Magnolia, Riverdale, Riverview, and West Gloucester from the 20th century to today.
At this kickoff event, learn how the project works, explore ways to volunteer and participate, and help shape the stories we preserve. Whether you have lived in Gloucester for decades, recently arrived, or simply want to learn more about the community, your memories are an important part of Gloucester’s history.
Come share ideas, connect with neighbors, and help map Gloucester’s memories—one story at a time.
To register, please provide the following information:
Registrant First Name *Registrant Last Name *Registrant Email *Email reminders are sent 48 hours before the event takes place.Registrant Telephone *Total number of attendees you are registering (include yourself if you are attending) *8 maximum per registration
Have you included yourself in the number of those attending? *
Yes No
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Print and share flyer! Wadia Ells and SFL present a reminder about the upcoming talk Thursday Feb 26, 2026
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease Why More Younger Women Are Developing Breast Cancer
Thursday Feb 26, 2026 5- 6:30 pm Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester, MA
Is cancer a haphazard genetic disease that still appears to be poorly understood by the cancer industry? Or is cancer actually a metabolic disease, created by logical biological conditions? If so, what is causing so much more breast cancer in younger women today?
Dr. Susan Wadia-Ells, author of Busting Breast Cancer: Five Simple Steps to Keep Breast Cancer out of Your Body, will discuss this critical question at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday February 26, 5-6:30pm.
Wadia-Ells, a Manchester, by the Sea resident, is an investigative journalist with a background in political economy and women’s studies. In 2008, continuing to lose too many friends to metastatic breast cancer, she founded the National Breast Cancer Prevention Project to fund her research, while also writing the “Honest Health” column for the Gloucester Daily Times.
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Friday, September 5, 2025, was a beautiful sunny day. The Sawyer Free Library Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was well attended. Thank you to the Cape Ann Youth Chorus talented kids. They were excellent.
Thank you to Gloucester’s State Representative, Ann-Margaret Ferrante and State Senator Bruce Tarr for their help with the library.
Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll welcomed from Mayor Verga
The Board, President, Director of the library did a great job.
An example of the renovated library, it looks amazing.
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What a gorgeous day for visiting downtown stores, orgs and restaurants to check out Gloucester’s peppy So Salty 2025. There are so many special deals and activities! Thanks Joey for sharing the details! Cape Ann Museum has the welcome booth set up for a good place to start.
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12/9/2023 Beautiful day to visit downtown! PROGRAM BELOW
courtesy photos: from Middle Street Walk 2023. Activities in Trinity Church (Sawyer Free Library, Bell Ringers, Seasonal fair tables (bulbs, quilts and evergreen boughs)
MIDDLE STREET WALK PROGRAM of FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND TREATS HERE (photos below)
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Hundreds of the library’s Gloucester Newspaper Microfilm Collection of monthly reels spanning 40+ years have been optimized for accessibility and are now fully searchable on line! The microfilm rolls and readers on site are up and running as well.
It’s as easy as click on the home page! Here’s Julie Travers, SFL’s Local History Librarian, walking me through the happy news. If you’d like to contribute to the library’s ongoing efforts, each roll costs roughly $175-$200 a piece.
Archives for All!
“HISTORY MAKING PLEA – ARCHIVES FOR ALL The prohibitive costs of best practice historic preservation (ADA compliant, temperature and humidity controls, security, sustainability, in house scanning/OCR/audio transcription, etc.) is impossible for all the worthy collections in town, and pits them as foes when vying for funds. Let’s flip that impediment on its head and make Gloucester a model for the state. Its treasures would be available worldwide if they were truly accessible –digitized…”
How exciting that Gloucester’s repositories have been busy digitizing treasures from their archives. The GDT newspaper microfilm rolls are a welcome addition.
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10-11:30 Saturday December 3, 2022 – Free family fun!
A reading and book signing of The Tree In Dock Square at Sawyer Free Library **location on Main Street**
with special guests author Jean Woodbury and artist Bonnie L. Sylvester
SFL@21Main photo tour
The bright library is in the space memorably outfitted by Rob Newton’s Cape Ann Community Cinema (now in Rockport). His investments into upgrades and renovations –concession stand, lobby, viewing room (staff and Wellspring meeting uses), handicap accessible bathrooms, and more– are well suited for the retrofitted library zones. Stairs/elevator to 2nd floor. Ground Floor is Mystery Train. Note: The elevator is to the right when you walk in the entry. (65 Rogers/21 Main –the only entrance is on Main)
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Recap and scenes from the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library 2022 Annual meeting, including views of the most recent revised concept proposal for the renovation and addition intended for the library as they appeared in the feature presentation (Oudens & Ello Architects with Dore + Whittier Architects) Sawyer Free 2025
Mern Sibley, Pres. of the Library Board, greeted the crowd and emceed. Jill Cahill thanked everyone and announced that she was there on behalf of the Mayor who was unable to attend as he was at the SFL Medal Awards. (And Jenny Benedict, Library Director, was here at the SFL Annual Meeting, unable to attend the SFL Medal Awards at GHS. Ditto some corporators, perhaps.) The City and Gloucester School District are working closely together, and thrilled to be partnering. In speaking with the Mayor about what message he hoped to convey, Cahill said their moving conversation spilled over among the City Hall Administration staff and easily turned to reminiscences about how the library impacted their lives. A musician himself and music fan, Mayor Verga told them as a boy he loved checking out the CDs and CD player. Cahill shared how first public outings for her mom, wheelchair bound after a health spell, were easy at the library precisely because everyone there was so friendly, and the library was so accessible.
Benedict stressed how instrumental the library was in bringing the community back together after Covid closures and how that was reflected in the robust attendance and programs. Attendance numbers included school visits, too. She concluded with a big note of gratitude for the 16 staff “library champions” which received the biggest clap of the night.
With a nod to prior remarks, Matt Oudens began by saying thanks and that he “was happy to be reminded of going from libraries of things to libraries that DO.”
Thankfully Gloucester’s library can boast both/and since its inception.
He began by showing the library as it stands now.
“We’ve always noticed how difficult it is to enter the building — the renovation of Saunders is its own project– and the difficult wayfinding problem.”
Since the last time he presented, a construction manager was engaged who recommended modifying the plans (along the side of the Monell building parallel to Middle Street). The “sliver” on that side would be too expensive to build. Instead a “glass “gasket” between the Monell shell and the new addition is planned that will be more economical and a clear signal of where to circulate in & up” the library building(s).
Old concept plan Left | Revised concept plan as of 11/16/2022 Right (note angled “gasket”)
LOWER LEVEL
A lower lobby on the Lower Level was expanded. More bathrooms were added. This wing will be available off hours and can be open on its own, separate from the main building. The meeting space on the lower level will open to the outside, to use the outdoor space that runs along the length between the library and Central Grammar (as the children’s library had). *maybe longer then now
DALE AVENUE LEVEL
All adult collection here. The newspaper periodical reading lobby will be open (high ceiling by soaring windows overlooking Rando Memorial gardens and amphitheater). The 1913 pass through stacks (between the Monell and Saunders) is now the Gallery and Cafe area. A gently sloped sidewalk will allow for greater accessibility at this entrance.
TOP FLOOR
Children’s services spaces. Teen spaces.
DESIGN
“Overall, much more light will transform the library into a nice place to be.”
Much of the exterior is being preserved. Oudens was excited that they’ll be removing the HVAC down to floor and increasing glazing by 25%. All the energy upgrades are important to him*. The light colored brick selected for the new addition will match the painted brick of the Monell. (The community pressed for green consideration all along. As of Feb. 2019 the design team emphasized that scope.)
photo block below: Before / After pairings followed by more views of current built environment and questions
TEMPORARY LOCATION ON MAIN STREET IS OPEN
“You can do any and all library things that you do here (at the Dale Ave. location) at the temporary location on Main Street. Go! Please check it out!”
Now thru 2025. The temporary library address is 21 Main Street–above Mystery Train; next to Virgilio’s; across from Tonno, Short & Main, and Caffe Sicilia; down the street from The Bookstore of Gloucester, Pop Gallery, and the Isabel Babson library. Look for “SFL@21Main” for events off site, too!
Questions Asked FROM THE FLOOR
Questions and comments from the audience– followed the budget and architectural plan agenda items:
Question. What is the (financial) arrangement with the city? How does the money/financing work with the city?Joe Grella, Board member, explained first that the Annual Meeting budget report is for the year prior to the year the meeting is taking place. Then he presented the budget. The endowment is below 5 mil and will deplete more. These reserves will need to be built back up at a future date. The questions about the financial arrangement followed his budget report. He explained the debt. (One million had been appropriated for the fundraising/fee.)
Q. What about the fundraising? What happens if it’s not raised? A. Mern Sibley said that’s a perfect segue to introducing John Brennan for the fundraising report. “The City voting to fund the loan for the new building was a game changer,” and they’ve raised 52% of the goal. He appealed for a benefactor like philanthropists over a century ago: “Seeking the Next Samuel Sawyer. The Next Addison…We need to still find donors that will propel the project…(Since ca. 2018) it was a small group of me, Fred, Deb (Lib. Dir. summer 2015-summer 2020), others and NOW with the city’s momentum, we’re picking up speed (fundraising). [Hence another Sawyer Library Foundation and Sawyer Free 2025 Capital campaign.] A postcard was sent to every household in Gloucester…” He credited an audience member with the phrase, “We’re just jazzed.” And thanked the donors: Inst. Savings, Bank Glou, Sudbay, Gorton’s, etc.
Q. This has been mentioned before, but how will children’s services work for programs on the top floor with one elevator?A. Oudens said it has worked at other buildings he’s completed. The elevator will be bigger than the one that’s there now.
Q. Have there been more thought to swapping (floors) / amending designs? A. The distribution hasn’t changed.
Q. Is the atrium height filled in? Yes. The ceiling will be the floor of the top level. (On this floor, height will be opened up above the new Newspapers and Periodical Reading area which is overlooking Rando Memorial )
Q. What is the cafe? A. Oudens repeated the potential location (former stacks connector) and how they’ve worked at other libraries. He replied that that’s undecided.
Q. The new “stacks” space is windows. Where will the art hang (auction and exhibits)? Where are the walls? (several audience members) Oudens suggested free standing display panels, etc., and to check out the space following the meeting to see the general idea of the footprint there and confirm window count.
Q. Has there been consideration of repurposing and/or revising as much as possible of the extant building existing elements? A. Oudens said there’s not a lot to save, mostly because of code compliance reasons. There will be many upgrades. “The plans (now) maintain the exterior. Hopefully the inside will have enough of a refreshed feeling of Monell.”
Q. Where are the bathrooms? A. The plans show more bathrooms than what’s here now, and on each and every level. Oudens mentioned 4 or 5 bathrooms on the School Street | back of the building level, dictated/guided by the size of the meeting room, which is capacity 100. (I believe there were 2 restrooms for women, 1 men, and one all. Maybe they can all be all gender bathrooms, like planes.) *Not sure if they are all accessible
More questions.
I also wonder about the Matz gallery space, and how to add more gallery space. Also, where are the designated special built sites for major works in the collection (removed–on loan to Cape Ann Museum and storage/Trust). I was asked if the bathrooms can be reconfigured or the stairwell so that there are more elevators if the traffic flow isn’t flipped? Is there ample space for archives and research? Do the plans emphasize or miss a strategy and monies spent for digitization of the enviable archives, accessibility for all? Are there too many meeting spaces especially with other options close by (City Hall, Temple, UU Church, CAM, sites on Main Street, and more)? A cafe option split audience reaction, and prompted great chatter of “I’d love that!” and “No way!” One board member repeated how much he loved the Wenham Library more than this building. In the rendering showing a viewshed from Dale Avenue/City Hall to SFL, is the new addition blocking the view of the UU Church? Feedback over the years asked about the corridor between Central Grammar and the library and views showcasing City Hall.
The history of SFL’s extant buildings and archives (of historical and cultural, local and national significance) are the envy of libraries along the North Shore and –with the City’s, CAM’s –such assets are up there with Boston’s Public Library and major university repositories.
I believe that the custodian services are borne by the City. When the library is open for special events beyond operating hours a custodian is responsible for closing, if not the event breakdown itself. How will this impact the budget for the library and the city?
July 2022- Friends of SFL Bonanza Book Sale – 50 % off all books!!!
Mid -August: Our Friends Book Shop will be closing temporarily for the renovation of the SFL Monell Building and Annex, and will reopen again in 2025.Please stop by the Book Shop to stock up on your summer reading while we still have an abundant supply of “gently used books”. We appreciate your many years of support and look forward to seeing you in our new library location in 2025. If you have questions, please email us at friendsofsawyer@gmail.com.
Colleen Hogan-Lopez w/Friends of SFL
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We want to thank all our wonderful “friends” who donated, sorted or purchased books over these past 10 years since we opened for business. Our Friends Book Shop will be closing temporarily for the renovation of the SFL Monell Building and Annex, which is tentatively slated to begin in early 2023 and reopen again in 2025.
Here are a few key dates to keep in mind.
June 15 Book donations will no longer be accepted.
July 1-31 Bonanza book sale will be held – 50 % off all books!!!
Mid -August Book Shop will cease operations until the SFL reconstruction is completed in 2025.
Please stop by the Book Shop to stock up on your summer reading while we still have an abundant supply of “gently used books”. We appreciate your many years of support and look forward to seeing you in our new library location in 2025. If you have questions, please email us at friendsofsawyer@gmail.com.
ARTIST RENDERING – FUTURE BUILD
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Glo Con 22′ – The Sawyer Free Library’s first-ever Comic-Con will be on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. It is an all-ages event celebrating comics and graphic novels, as art, as literature, and as a part of pop culture – bringing together fans, young and old, and creators for a jam-packed day of special guests, workshops with comic book authors and artists, live programs, fandom games, crafts and activities, photo ops with characters, exciting surprises, and much more. Attendees are also encouraged to wear costumes. For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
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Sawyer Free Library Tails and Tales 2021 Summer Reading Program special events continues the snake theme on Monday with Curbside Crafts. Stop by to pick up the creative craft kit!
and big kids!
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Sawyer Free Library Tails and Tales 2021 Summer Reading Program special events continues the snake theme on Monday with Curbside Crafts. Stop by to pick up the creative craft kit!
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Mary Frederica Rhinelander McCarl died of heart failure on Monday, June 7, in Gloucester, Mass., at age 81. Born on May 3, 1940, in Abington, Pa., to Constance Templeton Rhinelander and Frederic William Rhinelander, M.D., she came of age in Boston. A proud graduate of the Winsor School for girls in 1957, she finished her bachelor’s degree in history magna cum laude at Radcliffe College in 1961. Over the next three decades, she earned three master’s degrees, in history (Harvard), library sciences (Simmons College), and archival sciences (UMass/Boston). She also completed the coursework for two history doctorates: the first in medieval studies in the 1960s at Harvard, and the second in the 1980s and 1990s in the History of the Book program at Boston University.
She was a gifted cook and artist specializing in watercolors, acrylics, fiber art, and collage. She was also a published scholar. In her 1997 book The Plowman’s Tale, she proved that published versions of Geoffrey Chaucer’s fourteenth-century Canterbury Tales contained a forgery written by radical Protestants centuries later during England’s religious wars. Her articles on colonial New England include histories of Salem’s witchcraft crisis (1692) and medical knowledge. Her historical activism includes her leadership in funding restoration of Gloucester’s 1876 city hall building. In 2015, she won a Citizenship Award from the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.
Her first marriage, to John S. C. (Jack) Morgan, ended in divorce. Preceding her in death are her parents; her brother, John B. Rhinelander; and her stepdaughter, Kathy Maisel. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Henry Newton McCarl; her daughter, Francesca Morgan (Charles Steinwedel) of Evanston, Ill.; two stepchildren, Patricia McCarl (Sussi Shavers) of Atlanta and Fred McCarl (April) of Oneonta, Ala.; two brothers, Frederic W. T. Rhinelander (Patricia) and David H. Rhinelander (Ann W.), and sister-in-law Jeanne C. Rhinelander, all of Gloucester; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews including Edward L. Widmer.
Her family will announce a memorial service in Gloucester at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Constance T. Rhinelander Performance Fund, Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, 978-325-5500. Please specify the Rhinelander Performance Fund on all checks. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester.
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Colleen shares a nice note of thanks to GMG and the community, and forwards a thank you with an important update & message from the Friends of Sawyer Free:
Thank you (Catherine / GMG) again for all you do for us at the Friends of the SFL we greatly appreciate the work that you do to help us connect with the community.
Colleen Hogan-Lopez, January 2021
Dear Members,
As we begin the New Year, with the development of COVID-19 vaccines, we are all hopeful that soon we will be able to gradually return to safer, less restricted lives. As with any major disruptions, we often look back to see what we can learn from it and what changes we can make that will not only improve our own lives, but also the lives of others. We reflect on the good things, the things that are truly important, that perhaps in the past we have taken for granted. We adapted as a community, making an effort to help others in whatever way we are able. Neighbors helping neighbors and supporting service and charitable organizations, that continue to help those in crisis.
The Sawyer Free Library also adapted to maintain a connection with the people of our community by finding ways to continue services. The staff and administration developed virtual, on-going programs for adults and children and offers curbside service, so patrons can safely pick up books and materials. The Friends of the Library resumed gently used book sales in a new location on the main floor of the library, we now call The Book Nook.
Members like you continued to support our efforts by making a donation during our recent membership drive. Our 2020-2021 membership drive was our only avenue this year to raise the funds needed to support programs, purchase technology and fulfill other requests from the library. Your generosity made this year’s drive one of our most successful drives. We are thankful for our faithful current members and also for all of our new members. We want to thank you again for making it possible for us to continue fulfilling our mission; to enhance the patrons’ experience at the Sawyer Free Library. Without your generosity, our goals would not be attainable.
-Rebecca Aliberte, President Friends of Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library
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Sawyer Free upcoming January 2021 events are highlighted in a wonderful newsletter:
Prudence Fish lecture on January 9th
Learn more about Gloucester homes from your home!
Author and authority on antique houses, Prudence Fish, is a 2021 invited speaker at Sawyer Free Library. Her lecture about the oldest houses in Gloucester, showing Saturday, January 9th, from 2-4pm, is sure to be informative and entertaining. Because of Covid-19, the library has specially pre-recorded the event in order to bring a fresh, new talk directly to you. More about Pru Fish here
Cook a Book – January 12, 1pm
Matz Gallery Exhibitions- January 2021 Carol Dirga
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Touring the Sawyer Free Library grounds with Linda Bosselman on the occasion of her last day at work*, we receive a garden pep talk peppered with small gestures and comforting words. We almost forget that it’s her last day. Isn’t that typical of time spent with Linda? Her professional and unassuming smarts earned the trust of her colleagues, and make it a joy to learn from her experiences. An avid local history buff, photographer and community volunteer, she’ll be busy as ever. Still, it’s a big change with her having worked at Sawyer Free for the past three decades.
*Like other milestones during the pandemic, retirement (early) celebrations are altered.
happy retirement MESSAGES FOR LINDA –
Christy Rosso, Sawyer Free Library Director of Children’s Services, writes:
We have so many happy memories together, laughing over a huge display we had to do in a hurry — you frantically ironing hundreds of yards of blue fabric, me looping and winding it around City Hall for what seemed like days. It emerged as a beautiful and thoughtful addition to the event. Mischief managed. We designed many more wonderful displays and programs together, gardened, crafted, photographed, and grew a wonderful library and book collection together for our city’s children and families. Thank you so much for all of that. You have been a wonderful part of this library for 29 years. We are warmly appreciative for everything. We wish you happiness and more adventures ahead as you retire. Always,
Through her 29 years of service to the library, Linda has provided support in so many different areas; managing and circulating the collections, organizing and photographing programs, creating beautiful displays and brochures and answering every possible question about all things Gloucester. The list is endless. We love her and will miss her dearly but she has promised to fill in at the library every once in a while and that’s a comfort to us.
September 3, 1991- how lucky were we that day to have Linda Bosselman start working at Sawyer Free Library? She’s worked upstairs and downstairs, with adult’s and children’s services, with different co-workers and directors, for three decades. Helping generations of patrons. I mean it when I’m saying congratulations and thanks. Also all I really want to say is, “No, don’t leave!”
Justine Vitale, Librarian, Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library
“These are beach tree saplings, not weeds. People can nurture descendants from this great gorgeous tree!”
“Volunteers could weed a little in between the landscaping crews; just toss under the hedge until they come through. And share their expertise helping point out weeds from the special native plants.”
“In the winter, I love to photograph the library from Middle Street with City Hall in the background. I climb up on the (YMCA) wall across the street, right there.”
“The tomatoes need to be picked soon or they’ll split.”
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Sharing message from Colleen Hogan-Lopez on behalf of the Friends of the Sawyer Free Library
Dear members of the Gloucester community,
As we, the Friends of the Sawyer Free Library, open our 2020-2021 Membership Drive, we must acknowledge the profound changes that Covid-19 has made in our lives here in Gloucester and across the nation. Our lifestyle and the way that we are able to connect with others in our families and community, has changed in ways that we could never have imagined.
The Covid-19 virus has impacted the library significantly, including the Friends’ ability to raise money on which the library depends for programs, equipment and services that are beyond the library’s annual budget.
Our major sources of income, our Book Shop and our annual Art Auction, are suspended. With the library closed, patrons have not been able to access the books for sale in our Book Shop.
Also in light of public safety concerns and Covid-19 restrictions, we thought it wise to postpone our annual Art Auction until Spring 2021*.
Our mission is to enhance the patrons’ experience at the library. Now, this year, with the shortfall in revenue, our Membership Drive becomes even more crucial to the ability of the library to continue to serve patrons at the same level as in the past. The Friends of the Sawyer Free Library are reaching out to ask that you please consider becoming a member of the Friends at whatever level of membership you are able. Your donation will allow us to continue our support of the library, and, in turn, allow the library to continue serving all patrons to the fullest extent possible during this unprecedented time. Here is the link to render payment via PayPal for Oct. 2020- Sept. 2021 annual membership, or print out the membership form here (see below) and mail a check to the address at the bottom of the form. We thank you for your consideration.
Good Morning Gloucester 
