26 NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
GLOUCESTER and all of the Cape Ann resorts are 
prepared for 1915, which, according to present indi- 
cations promises to be a hustling one. Application for 
rooms at the various hotels have been most encouraging 
to the proprietors and over fifty per cent. of the summer 
homes have been rented thus far, which exceeds the de- 
mand of several previous seasons. There have been 
much building operations, especially at East Gloucester 
where the greatest amount of the summer business 1s 
realized. 
The green on the wild rose bushes and the hedges 
and the delicate white bloom of the wild pear tell us 
that the season has been ushered in. Already cottagers 
have arrived in different sections while many hotels are 
open receiving guests. _ Warm appropriate weather iS 
eagerly anticipated by those in the summer hotel busi- 
ness and taking the European situation into considera- 
tion as applied to travelers, one of the biggest and earli- 
est seasons ever, is the word passed along. While places 
have been taken up by the summer folk, there is gener- 
ally. accommodations arranged for people desirous of 
coming there, therefore Gloucester citizens deem it the 
wisest idea to hold as a slogan, “Room in Gloucester!” 
The “Build Now” Campaign in Gloucester has 
found’ two advocates among the hotel keepers in East 
Gloucester, besides the local land owners and _ several 
fine new houses have been erected by local contractors. 
The hotels receiving extensive improvements are the 
Merrill Hall, on Eastern Point Road and the Thorwald 
at Bass Rocks. 
Merrill Hall was one of the earliest hotels in East 
Gloucester, being formerly known as Craig Cottage, when 
conducted by its owner, the late Mrs. Mary E. Merrill. 
It has been almost entirely made over by extensive addi- 
tions and improvements. The office and parlor on the 
first floor have been thrown into one, a long comfortable 
foyer being the result, with a fine large fireplace which 
guests so much enjoy. The dining room has been en- 
larged several feet and new sleeping rooms and private 
baths have been added on the upper floors and in the 
big annex of the hotel. The enlarged piazza is an at- 
tractive feature of the hostelry. Ezra L. Phillips was 
the architect and Simon Garland, the contractor. Mer- 
rill Hall is situated at the summit of Patch’s Hill and is 
really at the entrance of the. Eastern Point summer hotel 
section, the Harbor View being a neighboring hostelry 
at the foot of the hill. Merrill Hall is managed by Mrs. 
Grace Buell and her son, George Crosby. The house 
will open the first of June for the season. 
A large new summer home for S. K. Ames of Mel- 
rose, the well known owner of the extensive chain of 
butter and egg stores in New England, has just been 
completed and the owner will take occupancy in a very 
short time. The house is located on a picturesque site 
near “Sunset Rocks,” so-called, at Eastern Point, facing 
the Niles Beach and Boulevard, and commanding a fine 
view of the harbor. The lower story of the structure 
is of field stone, the upper part being of stucco, with a 
long, overhanging roof of slate. A broad piazza, 14 
feet wide and 70 feet long is a feature, and at one end 
of the house, the piazza is uniquely built out to an angle 
which afford a much more extensive view of the beauti- 
ful surrounding scenery. ‘The house contains 16 or more 
rooms. On the first floor are the large living room, din- 
ing room, den, kitchen, pantries, maids’ bedrooms and 
two baths. A laundry is in the basement. On the 
second floor are six chambers, two baths and a large open 
sleeping porch. A big garage of stone and stucco, kin- 
dred to the general architecture of the residence, is built 
a short distance towards the golf links road and will ac- 
May 7, 1915 
commodate three cars. E. L. Phillips of Gloucester was 
the architect and Mr. Ames’ force of employees built the 
house. 
At Eastern Point, beyond the golf links, the former 
Edward C. Eliot residence has been changed into a spa- 
cious summer dwelling, the work of remodeling having 
been completed recently. The new owner of the estate 
is W. A. Coursen of Oak Ridge, Marietta, Ga. This 
estate adjoins the property of ex-Congressman J. Sloat 
Fassett of Elmira, N. Y. It is a 12-room house, with 
garage, and has its own ocean frontage, being one of the 
very few lots on the ocean located between the boule- 
vard and the sea wall. Mr. Coursen and family will 
occupy the house searly this season. The newly added 
living room with its mammoth fireplace and broad win- 
dows, commands a magnificent view of Massachusetts 
Bay. 
hep eaee along from the golf links, to Grape Vine 
Cove, a pretentious summer cottage has been erected for 
John Bowler, the millionaire brewer of Worcester. The 
house is located on Mr. Bowler’s estate, at the rear of 
his picturesque summer residence “High Cliff Lodge.” 
The new house is named “Warrington Villa” and has 
been presented, it is understood, to his daughter, Mrs. 
R. L. Royce (nee Emma Bowler). The house has 12 
rooms and baths and large sleeping porch, and a broad 
veranda facing the ocean. The chimneys are built of 
field stone. A Worcester architect drew the plans and 
I. P. Fears’ Sons, contractors, of Rockport, built the 
house. ‘Warrington Villa” is now being attractively 
furnished. There is also a spacious new garage on the 
grounds. 
On Grape Vine Road, coming from Eastern Point 
Road, a commodious and costly residence has just been 
completed for Mr. and Mrs. William T. Gamage. The 
house erected on a solid ledge is built of tile and fire- 
proof, and the roof is of purple and green mottled slate. 
The house contains 15 or more rooms and there is 4 
garage. E. L. Phillips was the architect and Simon 
Garland, the builder. Mr. and Mrs. Gamage will occupy 
their new residence this month. Mrs. Gamage is the 
daughter of Editor Hastings of the Lynn Item and Mr. 
Gamage is a member of the Gorton-Péw Fisheries con- 
cern of Gloucester. 
Mrs. Mary B. (Jackson) Rathbone, widow of the 
late Robert C. Rathbone, has arrived at the Rathbone 
colonial summer home “Hacienda,” located on the Niles 
Beach boulevard. Mr. Rathbone, who was a prominent 
insurance man of New York, died in that city during 
the winter. He will be greatly missed from the summer 
colony. 
The large schooner yacht Constance of Boston, own- 
ed by Armory Gardner brother of Congressman A. P. 
Gardner of Hamilton, is at the Rock Neck railways, 
Gloucester Harbor, for her annual overhauling. The 
yacht is named for the Congressman’s daughter Miss 
Constance Gardner. 
The Summer schedule of the Gloucester and Annis- 
quam Yacht clubs will be very attractive again this sea- 
son and the many prominent summer resident members 
will enter the races. The schedules will soon be in read- 
iness for distribution. 
The John Hays Hammonds are expected early in 
June at their home, “Lookout Hill,” Fresh Water Cove, 
Gloucester. Mrs. Hammond has been in rather poor 
health and is now in New Jersey after her extended stay 
at Hot Springs. Mr. Hammond has been in New York 
this winter, as has also his son, John Hays Hammond, 
Jr., for the past several weeks, eas: 2.” 
