Monthly Archives: February 2012

Granite Shore Beach, Rockport, Mass., circa 1900

Until 1898 in the U.S., only the U.S. government could produce what we think of today as postcards. Private companies could buy these government-issued “Postal Cards” with one side blank, print their own advertising on them, and mail them for … Continue reading

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Odd Fellows Hall, Rockport, Mass., circa 1910

This building, which still stands at the corner of Broadway and School streets in Rockport, was originally built in 1855 as the chapel of the Second Congregational Church. By that year, attendance at the First Congregational Church (whose steeple you … Continue reading

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My Search to ID a Postcard Reaches a Surprise End

When I first saw this postcard, I wondered where it showed. The scene looked slightly familiar, but not exactly like anywhere I know in Rockport. As you can see, the card has no identifying caption, saying only, “Greetings from Rockport, … Continue reading

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The Original St. Joachim’s Church, Rockport, Mass., c. 1915

This postcard shows the original St. Joachim’s Catholic Church on Broadway in Rockport. It was built in 1856 and stood until 1947, when it was razed to make room for construction of the larger church that now stands on the … Continue reading

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The Willow Walk, Rockport, Mass., circa 1910

This one has me stumped. The title is “The Willow Walk.” I know that Gloucester and Rockport had many fine willow groves, most notably the Annisquam Willows. But I can find no reference to anything in Rockport with the formal … Continue reading

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The Hamlin House, Pigeon Cove, Mass., circa 1910

[Note: I have new information about this house in a later post.] Here is a real-photo postcard identified as The Hamlin House in Pigeon Cove. This house still stands, as you can see from the picture below. The  address is … Continue reading

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Front Beach, Rockport, Mass., 1905

Here is a beautiful view of Front Beach in Rockport published by the Rotograph Co. in 1905. Except for the absence of the gazebo that now stands on the rocks in the upper left of the picture, this scene is … Continue reading

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