2 
Willow - 
some of the foremost people in the 
NORTIL SHORE BREEZE 
#3- 
Tale- and hearty at 82 years of 
| tae Mrs. Maria H. Bray, one of the 
best known women of Gloucester, a 
leader in its literary circles, and ac- 
tive for years in everything which 
pertained to the good and welfare 
of the place,—very quietly observed 
the passing of another milestone in 
life’s journey, Monday. The ocea- 
sion brings to mind the fact that 
Mrs: Bray and her husband were the 
- pioneer ‘hotel keepers at Magnolia, 
“now blossoming into the flower spot 
of the North Shore. In this connec- 
tion our esteemed co-worker, John 
“Woodbury of the Gloucester Times, 
fhan whom there is none more 
‘versed in matter historic, writes the 
following : : 
». **Tn 1876 they removed to Mag- 
nolia, and became the pioneer resort 
keepers of that place. At that time 
there were no large hotels and the 
place was one large farmstead with 
‘the houses of a few of the inhabi- 
tants of that locality. They opened 
a eafe and entertained noted people, 
who in turn spread abroad the name 
and fame of the place. In 1877 she 
opened Willow cottage, Magnolia’s 
first hostelry, now removed. Such 
was the success of this venture that 
the next year an annex called the 
Posteript was added, so named by 
Dr. James Freeman Clark, who was 
a guest, with his family. 
“An inspection of the register of 
cottage shows as guests 
artistic and literary circles of the 
day. Among them was William 
- Morris Hunt, the artist, who had a 
studio on an ‘inclosed baleony on the 
Lo 
PIONEER RESORT KEEPER AT MAGNOLIA HALE AND HEARTY 
AT EIGHTY-TWO. 
second story of an old barn reached 
by a drawbridge which was hauled 
up after him to prevent the intru- 
sion of the curious. 
‘Louisa Alcott was a guest at the 
cottage, one season, and one of her 
books, ‘Jack and Jill,’ was. written 
there. Mrs. Bray figures as ‘Mrs. 
Gray’ in the book. 
‘‘Mrs: Bray was also the pioneer 
in summer resort journalism on 
Cape Ann, publishing during the 
summer season a magazine devoted 
to the summer resort interest and 
called Magnolia Leaves, which ear- 
ried contributions from people well 
known in the literary world during 
its existence in the early 80’s. 
‘“‘On,the death of Mr. Bray, in 
1885, Mrs. Bray returned to her 
home at Braewood, a short time’ af- 
ter which she accepted the invita- 
tion of the founders of the Bethany 
tome of Boston to become the mat- 
ron. After a three years’ stay at 
this institution she returned — to 
Gloucester to re-embark with George 
O. Stacy in the summer hotel busi- 
ness at East Gloucester. Ilere, as 
at Magnolia, her house became the 
center for artists and literary peo- 
ple. After a season at Hast Glouces- 
ter, sue embarked in the summer ho- 
tel business at Annisquam where the 
same success attended her efforts as 
before. 
“Since her withdrawal from ac- 
tive summer hotel life she has lived 
at Braewood, where annually she 
has entertained guests until last sea- 
son, when, after-a long and suceéess- 
ful career, she retired from further 
activity in this direction.”’ 
Yacht Club Summer Cruises. 
Three Massachusetts Bay yacht 
elubs will cruise this coming season 
along the Maine coast, during the 
same week in July. They are the 
Boston, Eastern and South Boston 
yacht clubs; and all will leave the 
-elub anchorage Saturday, July 9 
Each club will start from a differ- 
- ent port, however, the Eastern from 
Marblehead for the long run to 
Vortland lightship; the Boston from 
Hull for a-run aeross the Bay to 
Gloueester, and South Boston from 
* City Point to Gloucester also. 
Both the Boston and South Boston 
Yacht clubs’ cruises will extend as 
far east as Boothbay, but the EKast- 
ern-Yacht elub’s fleet will go as far 
down ‘the~Maine coast as Narra- 
 guagus Bay, which is around the 
corner from Petit Manan light. 
B ave You Had Your pasta Con- 
nected? 
This is always a very busy season 
with the telephone company, on the 
North Shore. Families aré arriving 
from day to day and.from the first 
of May to the first of July, there is 
one constant rush to have telephones 
connected and new lines installed. 
We east out this hint at this time so 
that those desiring their phones con- 
nected or new telephones installed 
should see to it at once and have the 
work done before the rush begins. 
We are advised by the telephone 
people that early orders will make 
their work lighter 
time will insure the patron better 
service, as the telephone can be con- 
neeted now in season for the arrival 
of the family instead of having to 
wait a week or perhaps longer, if the 
and at the same. 
i9 
Oceanside Will Open June 10. 
Manager Charles E. Phenix of The 
Oceanside, Magnolia, says the hotel 
will be opened for the season of 1910 
on Friday, June 10. From the great 
number of advanced bookings it is 
apparent that Magnolia will have a 
busy season—probably the busiest 
and most successful in its history. 
Practically all the apartments in the 
score of cottages connected with the 
hotel have been engaged. June will 
be a busy month; July and August 
usually take care of themselves. 
Mr. Phenix has been at Magnolia 
all winter personally keeping an eye 
on the property and overseeing 
some minor improvements. always 
in operation between seasons. No 
big improvements were made the 
last winter. We understand, how- 
ever, that before another season the 
property will be considerably im- 
proved and added to. 
Practically the whole of the office 
foree has been engaged for the sea- 
son. Mr. Bell will return, and this 
year will be head front clerk, and 
Mr. Brown will be second front 
clerk. Mr. Butterfield, who was 
with the former management 
twelve years, will be the night clerk. 
Mr. Ward, who was room clerk last 
year, will not return from California 
this year. 
The Hotel Fairfax. 
The Hotel Fairfax, at Beverly, 
will open for'the season on June 1. 
Being the only hotel on the Beverly 
shore, this house, located at 78 Loth-- 
rop street, will be much in demand 
the coming season. Last year the 
house entertained a number of the 
President’s party, and many visitors 
to the President, and their families 
made this their headquarters. The 
house has been considerably improv- 
ed since last year and everything 
will be in readiness to open for a 
larger business than last year. We 
have been advised that many of the 
rooms have already been engaged 
forthe summer. Those desiring to 
spend the summer at this charming 
place should secure reservations at 
once. There is splendid bathing, 
boating and fishing in front of the 
hotel, which is located within 100 
feet of the beach. Terms may be 
had on application to the proprietor 
of the hotel. 
aiken is not given until the cottage 
is opened for the summer. Simply 
telephone your nearest office and 
give the order, whether you live in 
Boston, Brookline or anywhere else, 
The order will be forwarded to the 
proper office, 
