"Fishermen and Widows" a Gloucester Travel Page by ForestqueenNYC

Gloucester was chartered by King James I in 1623 making it the first settlement in Massachuesetter. However because of the harshness of the life there it was abandoned in 1626 and the people moved to what is now called Salem. The town started to develop at a later date and was incorporated in 1642 when it officially became Gloucester.

Though the town started out with farming it later became a shipbuilding center and it was there the it is thought that the first schooner was built in 1713. It ultimately became a fishing town and Gorton's fish products are made there.

Fishing was and still is a very dangerous occupation and Gloucester has lost thousands of men in the last 300 years to death, thus we have the monument to the fishermen's widow.

A number of movies have been made in Gloucester. According to Wikipedia the following movies were shot there.

Captains Courageous
The Perfect Storm
Moonlight Mile
The Love Letter
The Good Son
Parts of Stuck On You was filmed in Gloucester.
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming takes place on a fictional Gloucester Island and was filmed on Martha's Vineyard.