"Gloucester, Ma. - My Hometown Page" Top 5 Page for this destination Gloucester by fdrich29

Gloucester Travel Guide: 143 reviews and 481 photos

Gloucester in the '70's

I was born at the Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester on July 14th, 1972. Fishing was still Gloucester's main industry and my grandfather had started when he was just nine years old (and would go on spending the better part of the next 53 years providing for his family on the sea). He learned I had been born when the Coast Guard arranged a special call for him while he was out on the ocean.

Fishing and the ocean were the family's lifeblood and with it came a very specific way of life. I had the luxury of my maternal grandparents living upstairs from us, something quite common in Sicilian culture (it would be difficult to differentiate a Gloucester phone book from a listing of towns in Sicily). When I was young my mother and I would drop my grandfather off at the wharf at Rocky Neck and then pick him up a few weeks later when the boat came back in. Grandpa was a fisherman, I understood that, but I scarecely knew the difficult and dangerous life he lived. The few days that he would be on land would be spent mending nets, being with family and of course cooking. This was the way of life for many of the adults I knew when I was growing up in Gloucester.

Gloucester's Unique Culture

View from the Fish Pier

For all intents and purposes, Gloucester is an island, connected to the rest of the world by two bridges, the A.Piett Andrew Bridge, that gave us access to Route 128 and the rest of civilization, and the Blyman or "Cut" Bridge along the boulevard that leads to Magnolia and the Hammond Castle. Although the rest of the world was accessable, if not seemingly worlds away, people of Gloucester tended to stay in Gloucester. Going "up the line" (128 South, usually to the Beverly Hospital, or the malls in Danvers and Peabody) was a big deal.

We had everything we needed in Gloucester. Nelson's on Main Street catered to the fishing industry, but I could always get my Gloucester Fisherman school bag here (yes, that's the name of our sports teams). The Building Center on Harbor Loop had lumber, tools and Christmas decorations. There were two Cape Ann Markets and a Stop and Shop, two CVS's, Ames and plenty of shops on Main Street, most notably Empires, which could have had the tag line "Offical store of the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives".

Home life was special as well. Sunday dinner was always spent with family. We didn't have spaghetti, we had "Bista i Sugo". Christmas Eve meant fish, fish and more fish and seeing the entire family. Everyone went to the beach in the summer, and you were either a Wingaersheek or Good Harbor person (we were the latter). Kid's fished off the shore, it was your rite of passage. Frank, Joe, Sal and Vito were the most common names (there were three other Frank's on my street besides my Grandfather and myself). We had Joe Popcorn, Joe the Barber and Joe Hotdog, among our more popular service providers. The St. Peter's Fiesta marked the end of the school year and the beginning of summer and every kid watched the Greasy Pole runners as heros.

Today's Gloucester

I left Gloucester about 12 years ago, but as the saying goes "You can take the boy out of Gloucester..." I live about 45 minutes away from the Fisherman's Statue now and only a few miles from Boston, which seemed so far away when, on very clear days, you could see it's skyline from the shores of Gloucester.

Today Gloucester is a much different land than it was when I left. The world has finally come to Gloucester, crossing over the bridge to reach the people who for so long resisted seeking it out. The Cape Ann Markets are gone, replaced with major chains stores. Addison Gilbert no longer has a maternity ward, so Gloucester's sons and Daughters come into the world from a neighboring town. Coinciding with this age of awaking was something many of us never thought would come, the decline of the fishing industry in Gloucester. It's very weak pulse kept alive by a small percentage of the fleet and those of us who remember the days gone by.

On my wedding day, which we celebrated at the Tavern on the Harbor in Gloucester, as I looked out the emense windows facing the Harbor I realized many of my most precious memories of the city where I was born and raised live on only in my spirit, as their physical presence has disappeared forever. As I watched a lone fishing vessel leaving the Harbor I knew the most comforting memories were of Grandpa. I looked down at his ring on my right hand, smiled, knowing he was with me as my bride and I shared this first night as Husband and Wife in the city he called home.

Last visit to Gloucester: Dec 2009
Intro Updated Mar 7, 2010
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (46)

Gloucester Police Station Memorial - Gloucester

Gloucester Police Station Memorial Off The Beaten Path (6)

I happened upon this Memorial while walking down Main Street one day. The Police Station is on Main Street, but is also... more travel advice

Thomas E. Lannon docked at the Gloucester House - Gloucester

Cruise Gloucester Harbor on a 90 ft... Things to Do (13)

I was fortunate enough to enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise on the Thomas E. Lannon as my final assignment for a course... more travel advice

Merchant Mariners Memorial Things to Do (13)

A newer addition to Stacy Boulevard, the Merchant Mariners Memorial sits next to the tennis courts and across from the... more travel advice

St. Peter's Fiesta: Blessing of the Fleet - Gloucester

St. Peter's Fiesta: Blessing of the... Local Customs (6)

Years ago, when I was growing up in Gloucester, the Blessing of the Fleet was a major event. The harbor was full of... more travel advice

Restaurants (15)
See All Sicilian Christmas Eve Catering
Hotels (2)
See All Great View, So-So Rooms
Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Playing and fishing on Stacey Boulevard

Favorites (1)
Some "Gloucester-isms"
Nightlife (1)
A Piece of Gloucester Restored
Been to Gloucester?
Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (6)

1 - 4 of 6

Comments (4)

Reply
- Report abuse
Pawtuxet Apr 2, 2013 at 5:12 AM

Hi there! It's been a very long time..heading to Rockport/Gloucester this wk. for my b.day getaway. Taking some of your restaurant tips with me. Thanks! Hope all is well with you.
Reply
- Report abuse
rabbit06 Jan 24, 2010 at 2:31 PM

Could have had a plain cheese pizza while having a very good read of Gloucester! thanks Frank
Reply
- Report abuse
Pawtuxet Sep 17, 2009 at 2:12 PM

Here I am again to check out the updates. Ha! I see you researched the statue and lo and behold....it was made by Gorham's in Providence, Rhode Island!!! Yayyyyy!!
Reply
- Report abuse
jennifereccles Jul 7, 2009 at 4:37 PM

I know the Cupboard dates to at least the late 1950s because that is when I was there. Its now 2009 and I hope it still exists. Destino's tuna on the tuna subs is the most incredible. How do they make it? I like slices of tomato on my tuna subs. HEAVEN.