East Gloucester

EAST GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

The port from which to catch the cod.  Since Champlain discovered it in 1606 and drop anchor near what is now the Artist Colony of Rocky Neck men have been outward bound around Eastern Point for the sea and fish.  Gloucester remains to this day a fishing port and East Gloucester is surrounded on one side by the working harbor at Cripple Cove and Smith Cove.  Past East Gloucester Square and  Rocky Neck is the Eastern Point homes of late 1800's real estate speculators, mechants, industrialist, lawyers, politician, yachtman, and artist.  At the end of the point is the East Gloucester Light which has guided ships home since the 1880's.  Past Eastern Point you come to the Back Shore and Bass Rocks.  Bass Rocks home of the beautiful sunrises and the northeast storms that send the sea crashing over the Dog Rocks piling up on the Back Shore and bouncing back with amazing force.  History records that starting with the Howard in 1807 numerous ships have broken up on the rocks of the back shore.  In 1914 the Peerless Feature Producing Co of New York picked Gloucester to shoot a five-reel silent picture to be called "As Ye Sow" - it feautured a ship wreck on where else the back shore.  The first nine holes of the Bass Rock Golf Club was built on the estate of Henry Souther in 1904.  Since the 1900's citizens and vistors have driven around the back shore from Good Harbor to the light house and returned to East Gloucester by the harbor road.  Every single one has been amazed by the view.  At the other end of the Back Shore is the footbridge to the beautiful Good Habor Beach.  Where thousands come every summer to sun and surf on the beautiful beach.  In addition to Good Habor you have beaches at Niles and Rocky Neck on the harbor side.      

East Gloucester has an excellent elementary school on Davis Street. 

East Gloucester is also the home of the North Shore Art Association, founded in 1923, open seasonally seven days a week, free admission.  Gloucester Stage Company on East Main is a playhouse offering both old and original works based on seaport  life.  Both local volunteers and professional talent perform.  Down East Main a short distance is the entance to Rocky Neck Art Colony, the oldest continuously working art colony in America still features active atist and their galleries.  Rocky Neck also has several fine restaurants including The Rudder.  At the end of Rocky Neck Avenue, is the East Gloucester Yard of the Gloucester Maine Railways.  Here, fishing and pleasure boats have been continally hauled out of the water for repair and fresh paint for generations.  On Eastern Point dont miss the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities' Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House.  There are tours fom June1-Sept 15 daily.

East Gloucester a great place to live with lots to keep you busy.