Timeline of Gloucester, Massachusetts

This is a timeline of the history of the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Prior to 19th century

• 1606 - Samuel de Champlain anchors in "Beauport." ^[1]
• 1623 - Dorchester Company settlers arrive and setup at Stage Fort Park. ^[1]
• 1630 or 1631 - Abraham Robinson, son of John Robinson (pastor), and band of Pilgrims, establishes settlement and fishing stage at Annisquam. ^[1]
• 1642 - Town of Gloucester incorporated. ^[2]
• 1660 - Edward Harraden house built.
• 1698 - First school house built, Thomas Riggs first school master.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 1700 - Congregational Church organized, West Gloucester (approximate date). ^[3]
• 1709 - Davis-Freeman house built.
• 1710 - White-Ellery House built. ^[4]
• 1713 - Schooner ship type begins operating.
• 1716 - Second Parish Church incorporated. ^[4]
• 1720 - Dyke-Wheeler house built.
• 1728 - Third Parish Church established. ^[4]
• 1739 - "Great meeting-house at the harbor" built. ^[5]
• 1740 - Babson-Alling house built. ^[4]
• 1765 - Population: 3,763. ^[4]
• 1770 - Freemason Tyrian Lodge established. ^[6]
• 1771 - Cape Ann Light erected on Thacher Island. ^[4]
• 1775 - Battle of Gloucester.
• 1789 - U.S. custom house established. ^[1]
• 1790 - Population: 5,317. ^[7]
• 1792 - Gloucester post office established. ^[1]
• 1796 - Gloucester Bank established. ^[1]

19th century

1800s-1850s

First Universalist Church built on Middle Street, 1806 (photo 1930s)

Procter Bros., publishers, est. 1857

• 1801 - Annisquam Harbor Light erected. ^[4]
• 1805 - Daily Boston-Gloucester stagecoach begins operating. ^[4]
• 1806 - First Universalist Church built. ^[8]
• 1808 - First Baptist Church founded. ^[4]
• 1819 - Nearby Essex incorporated as a town. ^[9]
• 1821 - Ten Pound Island Light erected. ^[4]
• 1827 - Gloucester Telegraph newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
• 1828 - First Parish Church built on Middle Street. ^[8]
• 1830
  • Gloucester Lyceum and Lanesville Congregational Church established. ^[3]
  • 30 September: Fire. ^[10]
  • Population: 7,510. ^[7]
• 1831 - Eastern Point Light erected. ^[4]
• 1832 - Gloucester Circulating Library, Front Street, in operation. ^[11]
• 1834 - Gloucester Democrat newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
• 1835 - Straitsmouth Island Light erected. ^[4]
• 1836 - Female Charitable Society organized. ^[3]
• 1838
  • Methodist Church built. ^[4]
  • Congregationalist Ladies' Sewing Circle organized. ^[3]
• 1839 - Annisquam Universalist Ladies' Sewing Circle organized. ^[3]
• 1840
  • Part of Gloucester becomes the new town of Rockport. ^[4]
  • Population: 6,350. ^[7]
• 1842 - Lane's Cove Pier Co. formed. ^[3]
• 1843 - Cape Ann Light newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
• 1844 - Town Hall built. ^[4]
• 1845 - Odd Fellows Ocean Lodge established. ^[6]
• 1847
  • Railway begins operating. ^[4]
  • Gloucester Mutual Fishing Insurance Co., Gloucester Marine Insurance Co., and Annisquam Mutual Fire Insurance Co. incorporated. ^[3]
  • Artist Fitz Hugh Lane moves to town. ^[12]
• 1848
  • Gloucester News newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
  • Mount Adnah Cemetery organized. ^[3]
• 1849 - Fitz Henry Lane house and Pavilion Hotel ^[8] built.
• 1850
  • Burnham Brothers Marine Railway built. ^[8]
  • Population: 7,786. ^[7]
• 1851 - Cape Ann Savings Bank incorporated. ^[3]
• 1852 - Company G., 8th Regiment organized. ^[3]
• 1853 - Gloucester Gas Light Company in business. ^[13]
• 1855
  • Gloucester Cornet Band organized. ^[3]
  • Cunningham & Thompson in business. ^[1]
  • Timothy Davis becomes US representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. ^[4]
• 1856
  • Oak Grove Cemetery, Independent Sons of Temperance, ^[3] and Cape Ann Bank ^[1] established.
  • Cape Ann Advertiser newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
• 1857
  • Procter Brothers in business. ^[14]
  • Citizens' Library Association organized. ^[3]
• 1858
  • Police court, Cape Ann Telegraph Co., Congregationalist Young Ladies' Society, and Congregationalist Ladies' Society at the Cove established. ^[3]
  • East Gloucester Baptist Church built. ^[4]
• 1859
  • Gloucester Fishermen's Widow's and Orphan's Fund Society; Sons of Temperance, Annisquam Division; Franklin Club; Congregationalist Ladies' Home Missionary Society; and Band of Hope organized. ^[3]
  • November 2: "Mechanic Engine Co. had a grand parade." ^[3]

1860s-1890s

Civil war recruitment poster, ca.1861

Universalist Centenary camp ground, 1870

Seal of City of Gloucester, incorporated 1873

Advertisements for Gloucester businesses, 1882

• 1860 - Population: 10,904. ^[7]
• 1861 - Railway to Rockport begins operating. ^[4]
• 1862 - Shute & Merchant in business |url=https://www.shuteandmerchant.com/history-2.html |
• 1864
  • February 18: Fire. ^[10]
  • First National Bank in business. ^[1]
• 1865 - Freemason Acacia Lodge established. ^[6]
• 1866
  • Board of Trade ^[4] and Cape Ann Horticultural Society ^[6] established.
  • Cape Ann Anchor & Forge in business. ^[4]
• 1867
  • North Gloucester Universalist church active. ^[4]
  • Sylvanus Smith & Co. in business. ^[14]
• 1869
  • May 16: Town Hall burns down. ^[1]
  • Cape Ann Granite quarry in business. ^[4]
• 1870
  • Universalist Centenary. ^[15]
  • Population: 15,389. ^[7]
• 1871 - Gloucester City Hall built.
• 1872 - Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library incorporated. ^{[16] [17]}
• 1873
  • Gloucester becomes a city. ^[1]
  • Lanesville Granite quarry in business. ^[4]
  • YMCA ^[4] and Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association ^[18] founded.
• 1874
  • Slade Gorton & Company established.
  • Robert R. Fears becomes first city mayor.
  • Procter Brothers circulating library opens. ^[19]
• 1877
  • Gloucester Bulletin newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
  • Artist William Morris Hunt active. ^[12]
• 1880
  • Sea Side Library in operation. ^[20]
  • Population: 19,329. ^[4]
• 1881
  • Gloucester Water Supply Co. incorporated. ^[1]
  • Harbor Methodist Church built. ^[4]
  • Gloucester Isinglass and Glue in business. ^[13]
• 1882 - Russia Cement Co. in business. ^[4]
• 1884
  • Gloucester News and Cape Ann Breeze newspapers begin publication. ^[1]
  • Tarr and Wonson paint factory built.
  • Magonolia Library Association formed.
• 1885
  • October 16: North Shore Tricycle Run arrives in Gloucester. ^[21]
  • Horse-drawn Gloucester Street Railway begins operating. ^{[4] [13]}
• 1887 - Magnolia Congregational Church ^[4] and Gloucester Co-operative Bank ^[1] established.
• 1888
  • Gloucester Daily Times newspaper begins publication. ^[1]
  • Gloucester Electric Co. in business. ^{[4] [13]}
• 1891
  • Gloucester Safe Deposit and Trust in business. ^[13]
  • Hawthorne Inn built. ^[9]
• 1892
  • 250th anniversary of incorporation of town of Gloucester. ^[22]
  • Gloucester Towboat Co. in business. ^[13]
• 1895
  • Gloucester, Essex and Beverly Street Railway begins operating.^{[ citation needed ]}
  • American Halibut Co. in business. ^[4]
• 1896 - Eliot house (residence) built. ^[23]
• 1897 - Addison Gilbert Hospital built.
• 1898
  • S.S. Portland shipwreck.
  • Business Men's Association formed. ^[4]
• 1899 - Ravenswood Park established.
• 1900 - Population: 26,121. ^[4]

20th century

S.S. Cape Ann ferry, 1905

Gloucester, Massachusetts, 2010

• 1902 - Cape Pond Ice Co. in business. ^[4]
• 1905 - Gloucester Cold Storage in business. ^[4]
• 1906 - Gorton-Pew Fisheries in business. ^[24]
• 1907
  • Gloucester Net and Twine Company in business. ^[4]
  • Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House expanded. ^[25]
  • Shute & Merchant became the fifth firm to join the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Company
• 1914
  • Our Lady of Good Voyage Church rebuilt.
  • Synagogue active. ^[4]
• 1920 - Population: 22,947. ^[4]
• 1921 - Chamber of Commerce established. ^[4]
• 1922 - North Shore Art Association founded. ^[26]
• 1923
  • Tercentenary of European settlement of Gloucester. ^[4]
  • Gloucester Tercentenary Permanent Memorial Association selects Leonard Craske's design for the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial.
• 1925 - General Seafood Corporation in business. ^[24]
• 1926 - Adventure (schooner) launched.
• 1927 - St. Peter's Fiesta started.
• 1929 - Hammond Castle built.
• 1931 - Greasy Pole contest started. ^[27] Held yearly at the St. Peter's Fiesta a five-day festival honoring the patron saint of the fisherman, St. Peter. Hosted by the Italian American community of Gloucester.
• 1943 - WPA murals painted in City Hall.
• 1969 - Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association founded.
• 1976 - Citizens voted to change the City Charter replacing a city manager with a mayor elected every two years. Leo Alper was the first mayor elected under the new city charter.
• 1979 - Gloucester Stage Company founded. ^[28]
• 1984 - Richard Silva elected mayor.
• 1988 - William Squillace elected mayor.
• 1991
  • October 28: Ship Andrea Gail lost at sea in the 1991 Perfect Storm.
  • Bruce Tobey becomes mayor.
• 1992 - William S. Rafter Jr. becomes mayor.
• 1994 - Bruce Tobey becomes mayor again.
• 1997 - John F. Tierney becomes US representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.
• 1998 - City website online (approximate date). ^{[29] [ chronology citation needed ]}

21st century

A man attempts to reach the flag during the Greasy Pole contest on Sunday, July 1, 2007.

• 2002
  • North Shore North newspaper begins.^{[ citation needed ]}
  • John Bell becomes mayor.
• 2003 - Gloucester Island News newspaper begins.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 2004 - Sister city relationship established with Tamano, Japan.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 2007 - Good Morning Gloucester blog begins publication.
• 2008
  • Teen pregnancy controversy occurs.
  • Carolyn Kirk becomes mayor.
• 2010 - Population: 28,789. ^[30]
• 2013 - Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) founded. ^[31]
• 2015
  • Police department program for drug addicts begins. ^[32]
  • Sefatia Romeo Theken becomes mayor.
  • Seth Moulton becomes US representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. ^[33]
• 2026
  • January 30: Fishing vessel Lily Jean sinks off coast of Gloucester. ^[34]

See also

• Gloucester history
• List of mayors of Gloucester, Massachusetts
• Timelines of other municipalities in Essex County, Massachusetts: Haverhill, Lawrence, Lynn, Newburyport, Salem

References

1. Pringle 1892.
2. Alden Bradford (1843). New England Chronology. Boston: S.G. Simpkins.
3. Gloucester Directory 1860.
4. Arrington 1922.
5. James Robinson Newhall (1836), The Essex Memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county, Salem, Mass.: Henry Whipple
6. Fisheries 1876.
7. Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990, US Census Bureau, 1998
8. "Historical Materials". Fitz Henry Lane Online. Gloucester: Cape Ann Museum. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
9. "History of the Region (timeline)". Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
10. Fire Department 1892.
11. "Catalogue of the Gloucester Circulating Library", Gloucester Telegraph, January 28, 1832
12. Weinberg 1994.
13. Report of the Tax Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1899.
14. William Richard Cutter (1908). Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
15. "Universalist Centenary: A City of Tents", New York Times, September 23, 1870
16. "Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library Public library". Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
17. Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, Inc.: 1830-1930, the record of a century, c. 1930
18. "Cape Ann Museum" . Retrieved October 31, 2011.
19. Cape Ann Advertiser, September 11, 1874
20. Cape Ann Advertiser, December 3, 1880
21. Robert L. McCullough (September 2015), "In 1885, adventurous Boston women took to their tricycles", Boston Globe
22. Souvenir 1892.
23. "T.S. Eliot's old summer home may become writers' retreat", Boston Globe, March 31, 2015
24. "Mass Moments". Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Retrieved March 30, 2016. (timeline of Massachusetts history)
25. "Gloucester HarborWalk" . Retrieved March 30, 2016.
26. American Art Annual, Washington DC: American Federation of Arts, 1922, hdl:2027/uc1.b3063400
27. "Watch: Gloucester's greasy pole contest remains summer's craziest competition". July 2024.
28. {{cite web 1|url=http://www.gloucesterstage.com/history.html |title=Gloucester Stage Co. |access-date=November 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122091116/http://www.gloucesterstage.com/history.html |archive-date=November 22, 2011 }}
29. "Gloucester Home Page". Archived from the original on December 12, 1998 – via Internet Archive, Wayback Machine.
30. "Gloucester city, Massachusetts". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
31. "Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Receives $2.7M Grant" . GenomeWeb . February 17, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2023. Located on Gloucester Bay, the GMGI was founded in 2013 to conduct marine and fishery research using the biotechnology expertise in nearby Boston and Cambridge.
32. "Massachusetts Chief's Tack in Drug War: Steer Addicts to Rehab, Not Jail", New York Times, January 24, 2016
33. Civic Impulse, LLC. "Members of Congress". GovTrack . Washington, D.C. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
34. "Grief descends on Gloucester as fishing boat with 7 aboard is feared lost", bostonglobe.com, January 30, 2026

Bibliography

published in the 18th-19th century

• Jedidiah Morse (1797), "Gloucester", American Gazetteer, Boston: At the presses of S. Hall, and Thomas & Andrews
• John James Babson (1860), History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Anne, including the Town of Rockport, Gloucester: Procter Brothers, OL   23608944M
• Gloucester Directory. 1860.
• "An American Fishing Port". Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. 1: 497–505. May 1868. hdl:2027/uc1.b5213322.
• "General Directory: Gloucester". Essex-County History and Directory. Boston: C.A. & J.F. Wood. 1870. pp. 248–279 – via Google Books.
• George Henry Procter (1873). Fishermen's Memorial and Record Book: Containing a List of Vessels and Their Crews Lost from the Port of Gloucester from the Year 1830 to October 1, 1873. Procter Brothers.
• Annual Report of the City of Gloucester, 1874 (ongoing).
  • 1893, 1894
• "Gloucester and Cape Ann". Harper's New Monthly Magazine. 51 (304): 465–474. September 1875. hdl:2027/hvd.hnybhy.
• Fisheries of Gloucester from the First Catch by the English in 1623, to the Centennial Year, 1876. Procter Brothers. 1876.
• Benjamin D. Hill; Winfield S. Nevins (1881). "Gloucester". North Shore of Massachusetts Bay: An Illustrated Guide to Marblehead, Salem, Peabody, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Magnolia, Gloucester, Rockport, and Ipswich (4th ed.).
• Gloucester Directory, Boston: Sampson, Davenport & Co., 1882 – via HathiTrust
• Atlas of the City of Gloucester and Town of Rockport, Massachusetts. Philadelphia: Hopkins. 1884 – via State Library of Massachusetts.
• Gloucester Directory, Boston: Sampson, Davenport, & Co., 1884 – via Internet Archive
• History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts, Gloucester, Mass.: James R. Pringle, 1892, OCLC   3714229, OL   7094440M
• Gloucester Fire Department: its History and Work from 1793 to 1893, Gloucester, Mass.: Steam Fire Assoc., 1892, OL   23389110M
• Official Souvenir, 250th Anniversary, Gloucester, MA, 1892, OL   14032003M
• Rudyard Kipling (1896). "Captains Courageous". McClure's . (children's fiction)
• Gloucester Directory, Boston: Sampson, Murdock, & Co., 1899 – via Internet Archive

published in the 20th-21st century

• Annual Report of the City of Gloucester (ongoing).
  • 1900, 1903, 1905, 1909
  • 1911, 1916
  • 1920, 1922
• Memorial of the Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Gloucester, Mass. August, 1892. Boston: A. Mudge & Son. 1901.
• James R. Coffin (1910). "Le Beau Port: the sea-browned fishing town of Gloucester". New England Magazine. 42. hdl:2027/mdp.39015023263083.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bureau of Statistics (1913). "Classification by Cities and Towns: Gloucester". Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures. Boston: Wright & Potter. pp. 152–153. hdl:2027/mdp.39015076394553 – via HathiTrust.
• Benjamin F. Arrington, ed. (1922). "City of Gloucester". Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts. Vol. 2. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
• Federal Writers' Project (1937), "Gloucester and Rockport", Massachusetts: a Guide to its Places and People, American Guide Series, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, hdl:2027/mdp.39015014440781 . + Chronology
• H. Barbara Weinberg; et al. (1994). "Urban Leisure: Gloucester: a durable magnet for American painters of modern life". American Impressionism and Realism: The Painting of Modern Life, 1885-1915. NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN   978-0-87099-700-6.
• John Hardy Wright (2000). Gloucester and Rockport . Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   978-0-7385-3911-9.
• Mary Ray (2002). Sarah V. Dunlap (ed.). Gloucester, Massachusetts Historical Time-Line 1000-1999. Mary Ray. ISBN   978-0-9722416-0-1.

External links

• Gloucester Timeline, Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library. Compiled in 2024.
• Gloucester City Archives
• Works related to Gloucester, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).