It seems that many years ago the
men of Rockport spent lots of time in the taverns with way too much rum. There were brawls and families disrupted....women frustrated in trying to sober their husbands. All of that stopped when
Hannah Jumper decided to take matters in hand. One day she organized the women and children of the town to assemble at an appointed hour. They descended on the town with fervor....emptying every home and tavern or their rum...tossing it into the bay and vowing that the town of Rockport would be a dry town forever! That was in the 1800's and the town is still dry today. You can bring your bottle of wine into a restaurant to enjoy with your dinner....but you'll find no alcahol for sale anywhere within the town limits of Rockport. Many folks make the short drive to Gloucester for their celebrating. Rockport remains quiet and very dry indeed.
We went to a town mtg. once when we were visiting. The crowds were enormous because some restaurant owners were trying to change the laws. TV cameras rolled and reesidents took their turns testifying....the booze was defeated...soundly. This is a town where everyone votes directly without a councilperson to represent them. It was quite an experience to see a truly old fashioned town meeting.UPDATE: On my 2008 visit, I learned that the liquor laws were finally changed to allow you to have a drink with dinner. Don't want to order food? Sorry. No drink. The ghost of Hannah wants no nonsense in Rockport. :-)
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