6 Neos hort, oH. 
SH Opies 
BRE E ZE 
Rocky Neck’s Development as a Srummer Resort 
BY MARY TAYLOR FALT 
This picturesque section of Hast Gloucester and the 
North Shore was in 1849, a grazing field or pasture. 
The late Cyrus Story of Gloucester was able at that time 
to purchase an undivided half of the Neck for $500. 
Like all other sections of the Shore its growth as 
« summer resort has been quick and remarkable. Until 
within recent years, there was no marked tendency 
toward an influx of summer residents. 
The present Pilgrim House was for many years an 
vld-time summer boarding house. It drifted like an old 
derelict to practical decay, then again arose out of its 
ashes into a new being to meet a new epoch in Rocky 
Neck’s history. But aside from that hostelry, Rocky 
Neck had kept her old-time ideals and ways as a fisher 
village. To the artistic contingent who frequent Hast 
Gloucester, her sudden rise in popularity is considerably 
due. They found her in all her scenic beauty very paint- 
able. She and her environs became the stamping ground 
of artists and art students from all over the country. 
They set up their studios in old buildings on the cause- 
way and in grey old wharf sheds. ; 
For a number of years such well known marine 
painters of note as Walter L. Dean, A. W. Buhler, and 
Victor Valenkamph have maintained studios on the 
csuseway. Many of their notable canvases have been 
painted in their artistic workshops there. Other 
knights of the brush followed their example and Rocky 
Neck has been able to add to her list such notable men 
as Frank Duveneck, the late John Twachtman, known 
ax the ‘‘American Monet,’’ De Camp, Potthast, Corwin, 
Llazard, Miss Eugenie Heller and many others. 
The ‘‘at homes’’ Saturday afternoons at the studios 
served also to introduce delightfully to the stranger in 
Best Gloucester the charms of Rocky Neck. 
The festivities, too, of the many art students, who 
have followed their teachers to Rocky Neck, aided in 
establishing an interesting clientele and an individual 
coterie. 
The college girls next made Rocky Neck a fad and 
this section of the North Shore is one of their chosen 
places for the Easter pilgrimage. Here they revel for 
ten days each easter vacation and learn all the arts of 
seamanship under the tutelage of professional fisher- 
men. 
Another important factor in the growth of this re- 
sort is its importance as a yachting centre. The 
Gloucester Yacht clubhouse is located at the Neck. This 
club acts annually as host each summer for the 
M.Y.R. A. Rocky Neck has materially profited in sum- 
wer publicity through its existence. The Gloucester 
Yacht clubhouse adjoins the spacious grounds of The 
Rockaway hotel. It commands a fine view of the outer 
and inner harbors of Gloucester and the Magnolia shore. 
Ten Pound Island is a short run by water from the 
clubhouse. Upon the island is located the U. S. Fish 
Ilatchery. 
Literary distinction has been afforded Rocky Neck 
ty the presence for some seasons of George Cable of 
Northampton, the author, and family, at the Pilgrim 
Ifouse. 
The Rocky Neck of today has indeed been touched 
by the hands of progress. The summer hostelries are 
new big and fashionable hotels. The cottage settle- 
ment, a large and growing one. The stranger is grad- 
ually acquiring the properties of the natives. Cement 
bungalows on the Neck’s picturesque and rocky prom- 
ontories are elbowing out the shore fisherman’s old-time 
homes with their heaped-up yards in which repose old 
cories, lobster pots, fishing gear and such equipment of 
the shore fisherman. The stranger likes this pictur- 
esqueness, but not so the old fisherman. He clings to 
the olden days. These radical changes almost make him 
weep. He is oftentimes seen lost in contemplation of 
tie ‘‘curse’’ that has overtaken Rocky Neck. 
Many owners of summer homes have found Rocky 
Neck so attractive that they remain all the year round 
now. , 
The fishing industry here today is limited. The fa- 
mous Rocky Neck marine railways, however, remain. 
They always delight and interest the stranger particu- 
larly the inlander. Many of famous cup defenders, 
crack fishermen and noted yachts have been made sea- 
worthy on these railways. To this day the Mayflower 
is annually perched on these ways for her season’s 
overhauling and equipment. The vessel in which Dr. 
Cook sailed to the Arctic regions in search of the elu- 
sive North Pole was made ready for sea at these ways 
eiving the Neck a historie part in Arctic history. 
Here also is the ferry pier of the steam ferry, Little 
Giant, which plys between Gloucester, Rocky Neck and 
East Gloucester. This trip by water is a popular one 
with the tourists. Rocky Neck is the termination of the 
street railway line of the B. & N. R. R., which encircles 
Cape Ann. It is an objective point for one of the 
North Shore’s most varied and picturesque trolley trips. 
Industrially and commercially famous is the Tarr & 
Wonson copper paint factory. It is located on the ex- 
treme end of Rocky Neck. Its product is world famous. 
For that reason so is Rocky Neck. 
As the Gloucester mariner adjusts himself to new 
tishing grounds so can he in many eases find his new 
bearings on land. In 1896, Capt. Frank Foster, a re- 
tired sea captain, remodeled his wife’s homestead, the 
Rackliffe house on Fremont street, Rocky Neck, into a 
boarding house ealled The Rockaway. The property 
commanded a grand view of the outer harbor, Ten 
Pound Island, Magnolia and Fresh Water Cove. With 
its quaint surroundings, extensive grounds, proximity 
to the electrics and ferry, its short distance from East- 
ern Point, it became a most attractive retreat to the 
tourist. After a few seasons it was purchased by Wm. 
Publicover. Here was another instance where a sea- 
faring man was able to successfully assume the role of 
mine host. Mr. Publicover commanded a large sum 
monthly as cook on one of the big schooners sailing out 
of Gloucester harbor. If he could eater satisfactorily 
to a big crowd of stalwart hungry fishermen, who de- 
mand the best, he thought he’d try his luck on shore. 
His venture as a landsman has proven very suc- 
cessful and the imposing and commodious Rockaway is 
a fitting monument to his endeavors to please. 
Capt. Jeremiah Hopkins who presides over the Pil- 
crim House with Mrs. Hopkins, is a retired sea-captain 
too. Part of the charm of this hostelry is the interest- 
ing sea yarns the captain is able to rehearse to his many 
cuests which add to the charm of their surroundings. 
Thus Rocky Neck has a tangible hold still on her 
old traditions but is fast reaching out and taking an 
important place in the list of popular summer colonies. — 
