Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1239297
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 22 MAY 2020 F A C E S + P L A C E S Gloucester is best known for two things: fishing and beaches. And it's true that the city's fishing industry and tourist appeal are two major pillars of its economy and identity. Any Gloucester resident, however, can tell you that there is far, far more to the city than its reputation for quality seafood and relaxing beach days. "One of the things I love most about Gloucester is that it is full of hidden gems," says city councilor Jen Holmgren, who has lived in Gloucester for most of her life. "There are dramatic vistas literally around every corner it seems." Settled in 1623, Gloucester is one of the oldest communities in Massachusetts. It was a fishing town from the very beginning, and the industry remained the lifeblood of the city for centuries. Over time, though, the culture of the place expanded and deepened. In the 1800s and 1900s, renowned painters includ- ing Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, and Mark Rothko flocked to Gloucester, drawn by its striking beauty, working waterfront, and unique light. At the same time, the area was increasingly popular as a summer retreat for wealthy families from Boston and New York. Today, fishing boats still dock in Glouces- ter and tourists still pour in every summer, but the city has become a multifaceted destination with a seemingly endless supply of unique culture, diverse food, compelling art, quirky nooks, and stunning natural beauty. Like the rest of the state, Gloucester has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many stores have closed temporarily, while others have been limited to telephone orders and curb- side pickups. The community, however, is doing what it can to support its valued local business- es, buying books, toys, pizzas, and pastries to help them get through these challenging times. Local fishermen organized a drive-through pop-up event selling haddock and scallops, and the line for the seafood stretched around the block. Students who depended on free school meals can pick up a bagged lunch and breakfast every day at pick-up sites around the city, and the Open Door food pantry has served hundreds of families in need with curbside pickup meals and groceries. "In the business community the morale has been really good," says Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, speaking on local public access televi- sion network 1623 Studios. D A T E O F S E T T L E M E N T 1623 D A T E O F I N C O R P O R A T I O N 1642 A R E A 41.5 square miles P O P U L A T I O N 30,049 Z I P C O D E 01930 M E D I A N H O U S E H O L D I N C O M E $ 65,377 Artist and author Virginia Lee Burton, frozen food pioneer Clarence Birdseye, inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr., painter Winslow Homer, early feminist and writer Judith Sargent Murray, Olympic ice hockey coach Ben Smith, college founder Roger Babson, musician Willie Alexander N O T A B L E R E S I D E N T S THE DETAILS Gloucester is supported by its bustling fishing community and summer tourists. PHOTOGRAPH, TOP TO BOTTOM BY SHUTTERSTOCK, BY MIRANDA YOUNG At the Beauport Hotel, which closed tempo- rarily, planning is underway for post-coronavi- rus events. A new multifaceted wellness initia- tive will have the hotel hosting regular yoga classes, open to the public and to guests, on its oceanfront deck. The hotel is also excited to have a new chef in the kitchen, who is working on a spring menu to unveil when the property is able to open again. "We are still planning and still hoping it is