Ron Gilson
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Ron Gilson
THE REASON FOR THIS BLOG
The following blog is intended to define Gloucester's fishing industry and its people over our 400 year history. It is true and factual as I witnessed the daily activities in my lifetime. Ron Gilson, February 9, 2019 ⚓ ⚓ ⚓ MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE A Time for Reflection and Remembrance 
This weekend we celebrate a time-honored tradition. My friend and shipmate, William A. R. "Bill" Chapin, comes to mind.
In the early '80s, we met as directors of Adventure, Inc., a fishing vessel historical restoration project. We both shared marine backgrounds and a mutual pride in our families.
I am pleased to post this piece.
 2015  
Bill and Ron aboard Adventure on return sail from
Bath, Maine to new homeport Gloucester
1988
Bill loved his children unconditionally, three lovely daughters, Liz, Suz, Annie, and his son, Jack, a former Navy Seal.
Jack will be the principal speaker at the Hingham Memorial Day service.
Bill would be so proud.
 U.S. Navy SEAL 
CWO Chapin officially retired from Naval service in 2014, and is currently employed as a Detective with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Environmental Police. He resides in Hingham with his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Erika and Samantha.
 ⚓ ⚓ ⚓ FROM LEGEND TO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE!! Steve Jobs 2005 Standford Commencement Address ⚓ ⚓ ⚓
May 15, 2020
FISHERMAN'S WHARF, GLOUCESTER:
AGAIN, REINVENTS THE WHEEL
Seafood delivered daily from their boats to their newly acquired
MOBILE SEAFOOD RETAIL VAN. . .
the freshest seafood known to man!
    
Four Giacalone brothers and their young wives answer the call during this coronavirus pandemic. Business is "off the wall". The wives and husbands are making it all happen at Fisherman's Wharf on Rogers Street.
   
To me, this is the Gloucester I love! Young waterfront entrepreneurship finding a way, "rolling the dice" with masks and gloves, delivering the freshest local seafood! These young risk takers are stepping up, answering the call!
Ron Gilson
⚓ ⚓ ⚓ December 2019 GLOUCESTER'S INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTON SHOULD BE REMEMBERED
As Gloucester's 400th anniversary committee plans our 2023 birthday celebration, looking back over a lifetime, our fishing heritage is central to our past. It is this Golden Age of Fishing - the decades of the '30s, '40s, and '50s Gloucester and its citizens witnessed our own Industrial Revolution.
It was an "electric era". I was fortunate to have witnessed this phenomenal industry transformation, especially understanding the IMPORTANCE of the era, as a teenager! While it will never be repeated; it must always be remembered!
General Seafoods
Harbor Cove
1947
Gloucester, its industry, and its population existed and prospered entirely on what sailed around Eastern Point. Fishing was Gloucester! In the 1930s, we were introduced to the refined diesel engine that allowed Gloucester's adoption and universal acceptance of the otter trawl, enabling immense volume harvesting.
Outer Trawl Haulback
Aboard F/V Joseph and Lucia
Starting in the 1930s, modern side trawlers (draggers) replaced all our outmoded dory trawlers. Vessel construction in the 1930s, (during the Great Depression) expanded rapidly. A new modern fish pier came on line in 1938. Redfish wharves from Harbor Cove General Seafoods, North Atlantic, etc., to American Fillet's modern processing plants on the North Channel were built. Also, a new Rocky Bay Fish Co. property was developed in East Gloucester. Two dehydrating, rendering plants also were constructed on the new fish pier, so necessary to process the ever-increasing fish waste, generated during our peak production years.
American Fillet's modern processing plant on the North Channel
F/V Mary Rose ~ discharging trip
1944
  1944 James Yard, Essex, MA  Jonathan Story Shipyard, Builder 1945, Essex, MA  Capt. Russell Grinnell, Owner 1946 
Gloucester Community Fish Pier
1945
  Fish scaling machine 1950  Pogey seiners at fish pier Circa 1950  Community Fish Pier 1947  In background, United Fisheries Complex    Spinola Family Vessel 1951   
Gorton's Cold Storage
Harbor Cove
 
Now TD Banknorth
Harbor Loop
Before the end of WW II, beginning early in 1944, new vessels arrived, often one and two per week - investors, fishermen, their families, fish companies, private absentee investors, doctors/lawyers, all wanted to cash in. We lived in an unbelievable economic era!
  
Dana Story Shipyard
Essex, Mass
1946
 L to R: builder, Dana Story; Capt. Joseph Ciaramitaro; sponsor, Mary Curcuru; and owner Benjamin Curcuru 1946   (off to Gloucester) towed by Gloucester tug "Mariner"  Would establish himself as a highline captain of the F/V Benjamin C   Parisi family vessel 1946  Melanson Boat Yard Parker Street, Gloucester Launched 1946  Capt. Salvatore Nicastro ~ redfish highliner 1948  
F/V Thomas J. Carroll
American Fillet Co. Owner
 Fisheries Leader ~ Photo courtesy of Harrison Golden ~ 
F/V Yankee
Capt. Cyril Dyett
1947
Both vessels built at Montgomery Shipyard
Ferry Street, Gloucester, MA
F/V Immaculate Conception
Circa 1945
F/V Columbia
Capt. Matthew Sears
1942
F/V Edith and Lilian
Capt. Frank Rose, Sr. 1947 F/V Judith Lee Rose   The last Gasper family vessel over four decades 1920-1950  Erik Ronnberg, Jr., Maritime Curator ~Ron Gilson's lifelong friend~  ⚓ ⚓ ⚓     Capt. Leo Favaloro 1946  F/V Our Lady of Fatima  General Seafood Wharf, Harbor Cove 1945
Gloucester was positioned to move into the productive all-time record breaking '40s and '50s! We had the fishermen, the vessels, the market demand and huge supply of red fish and/whiting (silver hake). The ocean was full from Ipswich Bay to the Grand Banks - there for the taking - we had it all. I thought Gloucester's fishing dominance would never end!
Ron Gilson
Coming soon to a blog near you... a fascinating story from the Gloucester waterfront you don't want to miss! "It all began in 1947....."  RELEASE DATE EARLY ☛ 2020 ☚ stay tuned! ⚓ ⚓ ⚓  ⚓ ⚓ ⚓
Our Holiday Wish For You
Life is all about connections and friendships. 2019  Thank you for being part of our memories! The Gloucester I Love ~ 2 and its extended family wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!   Vero Beach, Disney Cruise 2019    Pat and Joe         selfie     ⚓ ⚓ ⚓            2019      ~ Two Old Timers ~ Graduates of Harry Cusick's Finishing School  "THEY DO IT ALL"     1951     His father was a heavy-duty Atlas genius!  2019  Young Ronnie Cluett; Ron Gilson; and Bob Rudolph  Larry Collins, Drum Major (down Main Street)  Daughter Miriam Clark with her mother ("Ma" Clark) at soda fountain. In the foreground is young Harvey Rudolph, Bob Rudolph's brother. Circa 1945 (Photo courtesy of Barbara Clark Arnold    "An American Success Story"  Leanne and Keith Lohnes  Richard and Lana Hurst       The Executive Partner  A good guy who bailed me out years ago!   Highline Fisherman out of Capt Joe's Wharf, Gloucester, MA As the old timers would say, "Freemantle Doctor is a Home on the Ocean"     with their yougest grandson, Nicholas  ⚓ ⚓ ⚓ A GRATEFUL NATION SALUTES ALL VETERANS  
A GLOUCESTER HOME OBSERVES VETERAN'S DAY
Great Grandson, Logan Gilson,
''STANDS TALL'' for his Dad,
Master Sargeant Ethan J. Gilson, USAF
Observing Veteran's Day
with oldest Great Grandson, Wyatt,
and his Dad, Ethan
VETERAN'S DAY WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
AT
AMERICAN LEGION HALL
GLOUCESTER, MA
            
Chorus Director, Wendy Betts
           
Veteran's Day, 2019
MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY
November 10, 2019
Established 1775 ~ 244th Anniversary
On 15 December, 1956, I was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Marine Corps. It was the proudest day of my life! Ron Gilson  ⚓ ⚓ ⚓ THE LAKEMAN'S... A FISHING FAMILY DYNASTY
In the early '70s, Edmond W. Lakeman and his four sons appeared on the Gloucester waterfront. They were new to Gloucester's waterfront. They created an undercurrent of curiosity among the locals. They were outsiders, asking many questions, quick studies, eager to learn and willing to work. They were undaunted.
The Lakeman family: Edmond, mother, Jacqueline, and their sons, Edmond III - "Ned", "Larry", "Fred", and "Jack", were poised to write a new chapter in the history of Gloucester's fishing industry.
Capt. "Ned" Lakeman
The Lakeman's acquired "Jimmy" Madruga's small day boat "Belinda" and renamed it "Four Brothers' ... as Cody would say at the time, "watch those Lakeman's - they're "comers"! Much to the chagrin of established waterfront highliners, the newcomers, guided by their parent's leadership, worked hard, prospered, invested wisely, and over the years owned and operated the F/Vs Silver Lining, Curlew, Essex-built Kingfisher, and the traditional southern pogy seiner Dianne Carinhas. The Lakeman's would become knowledgeable, experienced captains/engineers...highliners all! The family became very successful utilizing old, tired, obsolete fishing vessels for their fish carriers!
Local retired lumper, "Joe" Mello recalls unloading the F/V Dianne Carinhas, and other Lakeman carriers twice in one day! The Dianne Carinhas loaded with 500,000 pounds of pogies presented an exciting spectacle as she steamed "like a train" down the North Channel. Capt. "Ned", Sr., his four sons, and University of R.I. fisheries students as supplemental crew members routinely "ran the mail" in delivering pogies to Gloucester's By-Products plant on the state fish pier.
Sadly, along the way, the family lost Capt. "Larry" and Capt. Frederick W. Lakeman. Their oldest son, "Ned", resettled in Belfast, Maine, and continues fishing on the F/V Western Sea and other vessels. Capt. "Jack", the youngest son, owns and operates the modern F/V Kingfisher, a steel 100' pogy seiner that fishes out of New Jersey in the spring and summer seasons. In the winter, "Jack" resides in Florida.
Capt. "Jack" Lakeman
F/V Kingfisher
F/V Kingfisher
This year, 2019, after the pogy season, Capt. "Jack", with downsizing and approaching retirement in mind, ventured to Blanc Salblon, Quebec, to purchase a 50' Hobble Built Clark's Island, Nova Scotia, herring seiner. F/V Atlantic Traveller, is powered with a 3406, 365 h.p. CAT. The new vessel is currently hauled out at Rose's Marine in Gloucester, undergoing modifications to her wheel house, installation of winches and rail rollers in preparation for the 2020 pogy fishing season.
F/V Atlantic Traveller
Jack's son, John, who continues to fish with his father is currently overseeing the conversion to pogy fishing on the new vessel Atlantic Traveller. A new generation steps up to the plate.
REFLECTION
After 50 years of highline fishing out of Gloucester, the Lakeman family are in the twilight of their fishing careers, Capt. Edmond and Jacqueline, now in their 90s, are enjoying retirement in Florida near son "Jack's" home. Capt. "Ned", still fishing, resides in Belfast, Maine with his family. "Jack's" son, John, is minding the family vessels Kingfisher, Ugly Duck, and the newly acquired Atlantic Traveller.
As winter approaches, all lines are doubled up at Rose's Marine.
F/V Kingfisher - Tied Up for the Winter
Ron Gilson, October 2019
⚓ ⚓ ⚓ UNION HILL COFFEE HOUSE
Opening Day 1981 – 38 years ago
U.H.C.H. Ready for Business, 1981
On September 17, 1981, Union Hill Coffee House, 284-286 Main Street, opened its doors to Gloucester's breakfast community at 6 a.m.; by 8 a.m. it was bedlam! The Gilson family: our son Brent (the prime mover) and more importantly, the cook; Blake, when home from a Merchant Marine voyage.
Son Brent, Joan and Ron – office photo 1981
For starters, we worked six months totally renovating the building. When we opened, we worked seven days a week for the first 18 months. We were closed only Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Looking back, ignorance and tenacity were our salvation. From the first day, Union Hill Coffee House prospered beyond our wildest expecations. Our opening day dining room capacity was 60 seats. With lines of customers both inside and up Spring Street, we had to get these customers seated! A panic call to Eastern Baker's Supply delivered 10 tables and 40 chairs after we closed the first day. Now the trouble was a slow kitchen. We couldn't cook fast enough. Eastern Baker's again delivered duplicate kitchen appliances, doubling our ability to serve our waiting customers. Our plumbers worked into the night. By October 31, after many changes, we finally had it together.
From the very beginning, we wanted to provide a different breakfast experience. We came up with our popular "Lumper's Special" (our super breakfast) and we served "S.O.S." (creamed chipped beef on toast) on the Marine Corps birthday (11/10) and Veteran's Day (11/11). We baked our bread, muffins, etc.
WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS!
Newly Constructed Union Hill Bakery & Came On Line - Grand Opening, Flag Day, June 14, 1987
Looking back, none of the above could have happened without our long-time dedicated employees: Paul Spinola, Lillian Fortado, Peter Araujo, Michael Feeney, Nancy Cutting, Rhonda Goulart with Richard Mahoney, our maintenance man along with a host of part-time employees over the years. Union Hill became our life and our faithful customers became our family: Joy and Tarek El Heneidy, volunteers, donned aprons, and bussed tables on busy Saturdays in 1981. This new friendship would span 40 years with trips to Rome, Egypt and beyond. Helen and Ray Chandanais with family, the Chapin’s, the Hogan’s, our U.S. Marine Corps friends, and special summer visitors, Ann and John Radossich, annual visitors from Rochelle Park, New Jersey, guaranteed our ongoing success. John penned the following poem:
“ODE TO THE UNION HILL”
If heaven allows breakfasts….
And we gain entrance there,
Do you think the Lord would mind
If we asked Joan and Ron prepare?
Our morning meal,
Spiced with their
Love and friendship
in our memories still,
Of that wonderful earthly eatery
We all knew as the Union Hill
And just one more request Dear Lord,
We know you’ll understand….
We’d love to hear just one more tune
From the Union Hill Banjo Band!
John Radossich
Union Hill Banjo Band 1988
Ron setting up for rehearsal night
Joan and I continually strived to make Union Hill a different place, unique in its offerings of food and friendship. Locals and visitors were attracted to special annual celebrations on Veteran’s Day and the U.S. Marine Corps birthday (Nov. 10th). We also sponsored the Union Hill Banjo Band. Yes, our Union Hill Coffee House was indeed a special place. We are forever grateful for our loyal customers and immensely proud of our dedicated employees.
Joan and Ron Gilson
⚓ ⚓ ⚓ ST. PETER'S FIESTA JUNE 2019
St. Peter's Sunday Outdoor Mass
St. Peter's Square
June 30, 2019
   
St. Peter's Parade After Mass
         
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ST. PETER'S FIESTA - 2019
Since 1927, June is Fiesta time in Gloucester. Capt. Salvatore Favazza, a Sicilian immigrant, was a fisherman from our Fort section of town. As the story goes, Favazza commissioned a statue of St. Peter, patron saint of the fishermen, for his Italian fishing community.
Capt. Salvatore Favazza
This year, 2019, is especially meaningful to me as I recognize Sara Favazza, my friend for many years. Sara is synonymous with St. Peter's Fiesta. She is one of Gloucester's treasures, the last Favazza sibling. My connection to the Favazza family and their vessels has been close and ongoing over many decades.
While St. Peter's Fiesta is traditionally a June event, I am reminded everyday throughout the year of this Gloucester tradition, thanks to Sara Favazza. In my visits with Sara over the years, when researching Gloucester's fiesta story, I would always come away with a gift from Sara. As I sit in my recliner, looking down upon me is a pewter key chain of St. Peter. Throughout the calendar year, this gift reminds me daily of Sara Favazza.
 
Capt. and Mrs. Salvatore Favazza
   
Burnham, Linquata, Verga, and Gentile....Italian
Michael Linquata and Son
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NOVENA TO ST. PETER
Monday, June 17 - Tuesday, June 25, 7p.m.
American Legion Hall
           St. Peter's Sunday Morning Social Hour Gathering at St. Peter's Club, Rogers Street, Gloucester 2018                2019 St. Peter's Fiesta Vignettes 
Veteran Greasy Pole Winners
Ross Carlson and Proud Dad, Chris Carlson
        
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July 4th Parade, Manchester by the Sea
    
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| Ron at wheel of Adventure August, 1988 Sailing seaward on Kennebeck River from Bath, Maine to new homeport Gloucester |
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| William A. R. Chapin (Bill) Friend and shipmate crewing Adventure on our return sail 1988 |
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Composite photos of "Bill" Chapin crewing Adventure 1988
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| Portuguese Blessing of the Fleet, 1947 Community Fish Pier, Gloucester, MA |
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| Original F/V Joseph & Lucia Built 1944 at the James Shipyard, Essex, Mass. Capt. Giuseppe Brancaleone 
F/V & Lucia II
Brancaleone family vessel
of the 60s, 70s, & 80s
Capt. Antonino "Nino" Brancaleone
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| F/V Joseph & Lucia III Capt. Gaetano "Tommy" Brancaleone 70s & 80s |
Scenes of General Seafood's Wharf
Harbor Cove
Circa 1947
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Harbor Cove
Circa 1947
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Favaloro family vessel
Circa 1946
Of all the 1940s commercial fishing vessels (side trawlers) that were launched from the Essex building ways of John Prince Story Shipyard and later his grandson Jonathan Story, "in my opinion", the F/V Julie Ann was the best designed of similar hulls produced by both builders.
Ron Gilson - 2019
The F/V Julie Ann launched 5/5/46 for Capt./owner Leo Favaloro, measured 93'x22'x11.5', powered with a 350 h.p. Cooper Bessemer heavy duty marine diesel, equipped with Hathaway trawl winch, Hathaway deck gear, and the latest electronics. F/V Julie Ann was a highline addition to the growing post WWII Gloucester fleet of modern fishing vessels.
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TIMING IS EVERYTHING
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Erik Ronnberg's model of the
F/V Bright Star
|
 Last fishing vessel constructed at the James Shipyard - April 5, 1947 Builder Fred Head - 71.6' x 19.4' x 10.8' |
Recently, at the Cape Ann Museum, Ron and Erik Ronnberg, the museum's Maritime Curator, and a renowned ship model builder, discussed his 1947 era model F/V Bright Star that Erik created
Essex Shipbuilding Museum
Adventure lecture and slide presentation
Circa 2012
Gloucester's famous Greasy Pole
One of the popular sporting events of the annual St. Peter's Fiesta celebration. In the background is Gloucester's new Beauport Hotel facing the outer harbor.
Ben Pine's Atlantic Supply Wharf
Gloucester's urban renewal area of the 1960s
Wharf Street "Harbor Loop"
Site of Geno Mondello's Dory Shop
Circa 1944
United Fisheries background
Circa 1945
Gorton's Machine Shop Wharf
F/V Conquest - Capt. Joaquim Gaspar
Circa 1946
Today's location of the Cruiseport
F/V Benjamin C., Launching day 1946
Dana Story Essex Shipyard
Benjamin C. . . OVERBOARD!! . . . undertow
 
F/V Joffre, 1918
Builder - A.D. Story Shipyard
105' dory trawler converted to dragger in 1940, sailing under command of Capt. Simon Theriault and First Mate Donald Laurie, Sr. in 1945.
F/V JOFFRE TO THE RESCUE
On a Wednesday night, December 12, 1945, the F/V Gale, one of General Seafoods Corp. Boston vessels, went ashore on Sable Island Bar, known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. The Gale, Capt. Douglas Schwartz, with 17 men aboard, was feared doomed in a raging 80 m.p.h. snow storm, caught in shifting sands off Sable Island, Nova Scotia. The crew wanted to escape the powerful running tides and storming breakers that suck and break up a captured vessel. Capt. Simon Theriault and crew, steaming in the F/V Joffre 15 miles away, heard the Gale’s SOS and made radio contact. Theriault and mate Donald Laurie, huddled around their ship to shore radio telephone and convinced the 17-man crew to remain aboard the Gale……the winds will shift, the tide recede, and the breakers will abate hours later, allowing the crew to take to their dories in mid-afternoon and row to the rescue vessel, beam trawler Breaker, with Capt. Halley of their General Seafoods Corp. All 17 members of the Gale crew were saved. They all thanked God, Capt. Theriault and mate Donald Laurie for their sage advice.
Joe Cody was my lifelong waterfront friend, mentor, and business associate. Joe was a common sense, street smart, respected industry leader….a straight shooter. He was a kind, caring friend in the mold of our mutual mentor, Ben Pine, whose teachings would profoundly influence both of our lives.
 
Manuel P. "Jeff" Domingos, Jr., President of the United Fisheries
Portuguese Leader in the 1940s & 50s
My boyhood friend and waterfront mentor
Escaping Portugal in 1942 (WWII) arriving on a tramp steamer in Baltimore, MD made his way to the family home in Gloucester on Herrick Court arriving at 11:00a.m. DaCruz left that same night fishing on the family vessel at 6:00p.m. out of New Bedford, Mass.
MY BEST FRIEND
Highline Capt. Joaquim Gaspar
In my opinion, Gaspar was the most creative forward-thinking innovator in the developing fishing fleet of the 40s & 50s
Ron Gilson - 2019 
Highline Capt. Frank Rose
Recognized leader in the Portuguese fishing community 1930s & 40s
Sch. Edith L. Boudreau
Capt. David Ribeiro
Circa 1945
 
Richard Saulnier, Tommy Brancaleone, and Tony DaCruz
Career Waterfront Mechanics
Rose's Boat Yard
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1623-1923 GLOUCESTER'S GOLDEN AGE OF SAIL considered by many historians, the period that elevated Gloucester's fishing industry to worldwide prominence has been romanticized down through the centuries. While our local supply and demand industry prospered and expanded, in size to 500 vessels in the 1800s, Gloucester's widows and orphans paid the price. This tragic history is graphically portrayed on cenotaphs in front of the famous Gloucester Man at the Wheel statue on the George O. Stacy Boulevard.
The Sch. Gertrude L. Thebaud
Gloucester's famous Fisherman at the Wheel statue. . . looking seaward over cenotaphs, remembering our local fishermen lost at sea over four centuries
Carol A. (Churchill) Maciel
At a recent showing of this blog at Seacoast Nursing Home, Carol A. (Churchill) Maciel came forward at the conclusion of my presentation. She and her Dad, Robert Churchill, sang a hymn at the Fishermen's Memorial service, July 14, 1963.
Holding a framed copy of the memorial program and smiling for the camera, she proudly reminisced about that eventful day over 50 years ago. At this annual tribute, Carol Ann and her Dad honored Gloucester's 5,000+ fishermen lost at sea since 1623.
Knockabout Schooner Helen B. Thomas
McManus design
Circa 1904
Knockabout Schooner Catherine
Largest dory trawler
Designed by Thomas F. McManus
Circa 1915
 
Thomas F. McManus and A.D. Story
at Story's Shipyard, Essex, MA, 1920
THE GREAT NAVAL ARCHITECT, THOMAS MCMANUS, designer of many Gloucester sailing vessels, had this to say about the age of sail: “The vessels were cheap to build, fishermen were abundantly available, safety features were of no concern to vessel owners, and sadly, the vessels and the men that sailed in them were considered expendable”!
DORY FISHING ERA
While nearby fishing communities adopted early innovative changes, i.e., steam and diesel power and experimented with other fishing methods, Gloucester for decades “stood still”, steadfastly clinging to archaic hook and line, tried and true, fish harvesting at the expense of its fishing community population.
Safety features, ship-to-shore radio telephone communication, and weather reporting was not available in those early days. Medical first aid was minimal. Personal hygiene, and lavatory facilities aboard these vessels were non-existent. Living conditions in crowded, damp, stuffy, warm, fo’c’sles were often home to cockroaches and bed bugs. Fresh vegetables, dairy products, and fresh meats were replaced with salt spare ribs, corned shoulder, salt pork, smoked hams, potatoes, canned vegetables, etc.
Men endured primitive living conditions, away from their homes and families, hundreds, thousands of miles, gone two to three months, working 18 hour days, always in unpredictable weather conditions. This often culminated in a broken trip (no pay at all!!) Terrible inhuman conditions were the norm, routinely accepted as a “way of life”! This was dory fishing in the first three hundred years of Gloucester’s fishing history. 
Man at the open wheel
Men midship mainsail storm scene
Baiting up on schooner Corinthian
Circa 1920
Men on deck in seaway
Men on bowsprit ~ the widowmaker ~
Breakfast ~ first gang ~ dory fishing
Circa 1920s
Fo'c'sle scene F/V Ruth and Margaret
Circa 1944
A PERIOD OF TRANSITION
Around the turn of the century, 1900, Boston steam trawlers entered the Boston fishing fleet. They were numerous and often fished alongside Gloucester sailing dory trawling schooners. It was the beginning of change in the New England fishing industry.
Rudolph Diesel's Diesel engine was not perfected to the extent required to impact the fishing industry at the turn of the century. By 1910, entrepreneurs, forward thinking fishermen, were beginning to explore and invest in innovative designs in their fishing craft. Combining sail and crude oil engines for power, change was entering the N.E. and Gloucester fleet. 
"Changing Ways on Banquero" by Thomas Hoyne
Boston Fish Pier
Showing steam trawler and
Gloucester schooner "Elsie" in foreground
Circa 1911
TOTAL CHANGE ~ THE BEGINNING
Thomas McManus in 1921 would design the first "eastern-rig" dragger with pilot house aft and gallow frames for hauling her gear, drag net, over the side similar to Boston steam trawlers. The first of its design, F/V Blanche Ring, was built for Capt. Herbert W. Nickerson. On May 24, 1921, McManus completed Plan No. 417 and delivered working drawings to "Honest Dave" Waddell shipyard in Rockport, Mass. This schooner dragger changed New England fishing completely in the 1920s and predominated the fishing industry for nearly fifty years.
F/V Blanche Ring, Waddell Shipyard
Rockport, MA
Circa 1921
F/V Blanche Ring, sea trails, Boston Harbor
Circa 1921 |
1923 THE TURNING POINT
Gloucester's 300th birthday brought pivotal change to our anchor industry. On April 17, 1923, the last all-sail schooner Columbia was launched from the A.D. Story Shipyard in Essex, MA. It marked the end of an era. Essex records indicate that fishing vessels launched from that date forward were all auxiliary diesel powered.
THE ANSWER WAS . . .
With the launching of the McManus designed side trawler, Blanche Ring in 1921, "the genie was out of the bottle". Side trawling, dragging, was made possible by the refinement of the diesel engine. Dragging provided a safer, more efficient (less crew), quicker method of harvesting much larger volumes of ground fish. There was no turning back! Capt. Matthew Sears (1939) was the first redfish highliner in the F/V Ramonde. It was just the beginning.
Gloucester was on the threshold of its own industrial revolution! The following essentials would come together resulting in the "Golden Age of Fishing", 1940-1955.
1. The refined heavy duty diesel engine became available in the late 1920s.
2. Redfish (bottom fish) were discovered in the 1930s.
3. Dragging (outer trawling) provided the means to catch this untapped species in volume.
4. Birdseye's flash freezing, invented in the late 1920s, allowed volume catches of redfish to be processed daily. The fresh frozen fish market made salt fish products obsolete. Flash freezing refrigeration forever changed Gloucester's fishing industry.
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REFLECTIONS
"The Good Old Days" are gone; the industry that I knew and grew up with is over. Gloucester and its people have moved on.
Community Fish Pier
Circa, 1947
West End of Gloucester's Main Street
Circa, 1947
Gorton's Cold Storage
Harbor Cove
1. The refined heavy duty diesel engine became available in the late 1920s.
Advanced version, heavy-duty diesel engine of the 40s & 50s
Scenes of General Seafoods Wharf
Harbor Cove, 1947
F/V Joseph & Lucia II
Deck Load of Redfish
4. Birdseye's flash freezing, invented in the late 1920s, allowed volume catches of redfish to be processed daily. The fresh frozen fish market made salt fish products obsolete. Flash freezing refrigeration forever changed Gloucester's fishing industry.
General Seafoods
Grand opening, June 12, 1942
Gloucester's newest redfish processing plant began operation on Commercial Street, (formerly the Clarence Birdseye property). It would prove to be a major processor on our newly developing post depression waterfront, all part of the rise of the redfish era - GLOUCESTER'S GOLDEN AGE OF FISHING 1940 - 1955.
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Haulback F/V Maryanne
Capt. Ollie Palazola
St. Peter's weekend, time off for family outing
Haulback Off-Shore F/V Joseph & Lucia III
Haulback Scene F/V Joseph & Lucia III
F/V St. Peter
Capts. Joe Giacalone & Bike Scola
Launched A.D. Story Shipyard, Essex, Mass. 1927
Early example of diesel-powered transition vessel entering Gloucester's fleet in the late 1920s
F/V St. Mary
Capts. Dominic Spinola . . . son Emilio
Engineer Michael Spinola
Builder Harvey Gamage Shipyard 1951
F/V Hunter
Capt. Accursio "Gussie" Balbo & sons Danny and Joe
Day boat Whiting Fisherman
A typical fishing family
A typical fishing family
GLOUCESTER . . . A City of Immigrants!
We all come from another place. In early years, Canadian Maritime fisherman migrated south to Gloucester seeking better economic fishing opportunities. Portuguese fisherman, fishing the Grand Banks from their native Portugal and Azores homeland, soon found Gloucester as their second home. Irish in the early days populated our Fort section of Gloucester prior to our present day ~ turn of the century, Italian fishing community inhabitants .
Highliner . . . F/V Caroline & Mary
Capt. Joe Rose
Circa 1945
Fisheries Redfishing & Swordfishing
Ben Pines F/V Puritan
Capt. Oscar Ribeiro
1945
F/V Catherine L. Brown
Capt. Louis "Louie" Brown
Highline Redfisherman of the 1940s
As a general observation, the Canadian and Portuguese fishermen were offshore fishermen. The Nova Scotias and Newfoundlanders were very familiar with their North Atlantic fishing grounds. The Portuguese found Gloucester's closer proximity to their traditional fishing grounds "The Grand Banks" much more advantageous and eventually settled in our Ward II Portuguese Hill area.
The Italian fishermen following in their European tradition were more inclined to fish the inshore fishery. For decades in early years, they excelled in inshore fishing and gradually moved into mackerel seining, again following the inshore areas but venturing further south in the early spring to catch mackerel as they traditionally moved north as the climate/waters warmed. As we moved into the decades of the '40s & '50s, Italian fishermen ventured into the offshore fishery as well.
Traditionally, the Canadian fishermen were North Atlantic ground fishermen. The Portuguese were also offshore fishermen. They were considered expert in swordfishing, and fleet leaders in this fishery.
The Italian fishermen were always successful in the inshore fishery and excelled in the offshore mackerel fishery. They were the undisputed leaders in mackerel fishing in the '30s & '40s.
Italian Highline Mackeral Seiner
F/V Santa Maria
All-time highline mackeral seiner
Capts. Peter Mercurio and Peter Guarrasi
As a boy, I was intrigued by all the goings on. In 1944 at age eleven, I was introduced to our busy waterfront as an employee of John Wenneberg on the waterboat Wenham Lake.
Our customer base was located in the North Channel of our inner harbor. This included the United Fishery complex at the head of the North Channel; Gorton's Main Street complex; John J. Burke's ....; Sherman B Ruth wharf; and finally, Ben Pines Atlantic Supply Wharf at the further end entrance to the North Channel. In all, we probably serviced 120 vessels at the height of the summer season (there was also a southern fleet that came north in the summer months).
During these formative years at age 14 in 1947, I started fishing, it was an exciting time for so many male teenagers in the '40s era. I wanted to experience every facet of the industry: seining, dragging, and in 1951, I witnessed dory trawling in its waning years. My only remaining desire was to experience swordfishing. This meant extended trips, 30+ days minimum. My parents would not allow any such long absence from home. (Fishing was always discouraged by my parents.)
Highline F/V Evelina M. Goulart
Capt. Manuel Goulart
Typical Portuguese Swordfisherman
Circa 1930s
Swordfishing George's Bank
Joseph Mello, Lifelong Friend (at age 13)
Sailed on F/V Magellan, Swordfishing Summer of 1945
Highline Owner/Capt. Edward "Eddie" Silva
Chief Engineer Manuel "Manny" Mello, Joe's Father
MAGELLAN SWORDFISH TRIP 1945
Joe Mello made the trip swordfishing that I longed to do in my teenage years. Joe recalled recently of being gone 30 days wharf to wharf in the summer of 1945.
Capt. Eddie Silva was a highliner, at the top of his game, in those years. With a crew of eight men, the F/V Magellan arrived in Gloucester from Georges Bank with a banner fare of swordfish averaging 100, up to 400 pounds each. Some fish tipped the scales weighing 600 lbs. dressed weight, i.e., head sword and innards removed!
I asked Joe about Capt. Eddie and Joe had nothing but praise for his captain. Mello said the captain was always well dressed, neat as a pin. He was always in command. As a boy of 13, Mello knew who was in charge . . . the captain! Joe couldn't recall the striker's name and the other crew members, but he did say it was "all business aboard the Megellan".
Joe was 13 in 1945, I was right behind him in 1947. I would make my first trip seining on Ben Pine's Yankee, with Capt. Cyril Dyett. I entered G.H.S. that fall. One of my classmates was Helen Silva, Capt. Eddie's daughter. Helen was a wonderful, attractive, bright classmate. She was friendly, simply a nice person - just like her dad. Joe Mello agreed. About 55 years later, after graduating in 1951, Helen and her husband came east from their home in Eugene, Oregon and joined my wife and me at our class reunion dinner table. It was a wonderful evening recalling memories.
Classmate Helen Silva
Flicker Yearbook Photo 1951
F/V Tina B.
Launching Day September 23, 1945
Builder John Prince Story Shipyard, Essex, Mass
Owner/Capt. Simplicio Bichao
Ron Gilson's first launching with his Uncle John Sticklen
Cardinal Richard James Cushing, Archbishop of Boston (1944-1970)
Pictured on steps of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church with my boyhood friend, Louis Costa of Sadler Street, et al
F/V Our Lady of Fatima
Owner/Capt. Chris Cecilio, 1945
WWII minesweeper conversion
5. Huge domestic and European markets for redfish developed from the depression of the 1930s to the post WWII era of the 1950s. These were a result of WWII military demands and post WWII Marshall Plan European commitments.Owner/Capt. Chris Cecilio, 1945
WWII minesweeper conversion
Launching Day F/V Judith Lee Rose
Owner/Capt. Frank Rose Jr.
Southboro Shipyard, ME 1953
Crew of F/V Ocean Life 1951
Capt. Manny Marques and his 11-man crew of the F/V Ocean Life - largest redfish dragger of Gloucester's Golden Age of Fishing, carrying capacity 500k redfish!
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REFLECTIONS
"The Good Old Days" are gone; the industry that I knew and grew up with is over. Gloucester and its people have moved on.
Circa, 1947
Circa, 1947
Harbor Cove
I witnessed the greatest period in Gloucester's 400-year history of fishing. It was a phenomenal chapter, Gloucester's own Industrial Revolution. I thought it would go on forever! Gloucester was fishing! We had the boats, the men, and we enjoyed a worldwide market for our fish!
We had it all!!
Launching Date was 4/17/45
Lyman James Essex Shipyard
F/V Villanova
Burnham's Railways
Capt./Owner Joaquim Gaspar
Last vessel built by Gaspar family
Circa, 1960
F/V Wild Duck
Capt. Cecilio
Circa, 1955
F/V Linda B
Capt. Rosario Testaverde - Cut Bridge
The family breadwinners of today will not accept what fishermen routinely endured only 70 years ago. Millions of pounds of whiting and redifsh were landed @ 1-1/2 to 4 cents per pound. Boats on trips for 7, 10, 14 days, away from their families. That's unacceptable today.
MOVING ON...
Gone are "button" fish
Gone are hyped brine tanks
Gone are "green fillets"
Gone is "rewrap"
Gone is the 10-lb. layer pack
Scaler Machine
1950 Vintage
American Fillet Company
1950
Fish Handling
Circa 1950
We once fished 200 offshore Gloucester vessels; today, 2019 we service maybe ten offshore local and visiting vessels. Day boats can be counted on one hand, and there is only one pogy harvester, Lakeman's Kingfisher.
The few vessels still fishing are landing only modest catches, compared to the '40s and '50s era. They are receiving exceptionally high prices for their landings and the product reaching the consumer is fresher and superior. Gloucester's diminished fishing industry survives, a shadow of its former self.
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FISHERMEN'S WHARF - HISTORIC PAST... AGAIN LEADING THE WAY
Fishermen's Wharf, an iconic leader on Gloucester's waterfront, dating back to Ben Pine's Atlantic Maritime Company of the 1920s, to the boat owner's Gloucester Whiting Association of the 1950s, is now enjoying its latest industry resurgence.
Fishermen's Wharf
Circa 1950
Fishermen's Wharf
2019
F/V Teresa Marie II
F/V Midnight Sun
Testaverde Family Vessel`
F/V Teresa Marie IV
TODAY'S FISHING 2019
Today's offshore vessels manufacture their own salt water slush ice. Sea water cooled to 1/2 degree above freezing temperature, produces a salt water slush resulting in unbruised, unmarred fish. The fish are individually processed by hand aboard the fishing vessel, no longer forked multiple times, arriving dockside in individual tubs in a superior unblemished condition Today's fresh fish are rock hard, vivid in color, and delivered absolutely fresh to the consumer.
Recently, I visited Fishermen's Wharf, 37 Rogers Street, owned and operated by the Giacalone Bros., Vito, Jr., Chris, Marc (investment counselor), and Nick representing three generations of Giacalone fishing family involvement on our waterfront. We can thank the vision of the Giacalone family for their investment and confidence in a diminished continuing local fishing industry.
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With the family patriarch, grandfather "Joe G." (Capt. Joe), I was treated to a guided tour of this amazing modern fresh fish facility, complete with its newest redfish culling machine, its pristine fresh fish stainless steel processing facility, huge cold storage capability, and modern day "no hands on" approach to unloading fresh fish.
Redfish Culling Machine
Redfish Cooling Area
Fishermen's Wharf utilitizes the latest computerized, visual monitoring capability, that allows the young, ambitious partners to be in constant touch with the day-to-day, minute-by-minute operation of their dockside facility. The Giacalone brothers have succeeded in reinventing the fresh fish processing industry. They are leading the way on Gloucester's waterfront!
GLOUCESTER HAS CHANGED AND ADAPTED. THE GIACALONE BROS. ARE SETTING THE INDUSTRY STANDARD, DEFINING THE COURSE, DELIVERING A SUPERIOR FRESH FISH PRODUCT!
Ron Gilson, 2019
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Father and Son
June 16, 2019
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