Category Archives: Uncategorized

Livery, Boarding & Sale Stable, Rockport, Mass., circa 1885

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

Before they became popular as souvenirs, postcards were used for advertising. This beautifully illustrated card advertises John L. Dickinson’s stable at 40 Main Street, Rockport. The address is right across from where Main St. and Beach St. intersect. A house … Continue reading →

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The Witch House, Pigeon Cove, Mass., 1906

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

Lots of postcards feature the old Witch House, but only one includes the cow. The story goes that the house was built in 1692 by two brothers from Salem to protect their mother, who was suspected of being a witch. … Continue reading →

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The Straitsmouth Inn, Rockport, Mass., 1908

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

In a post yesterday, I mentioned the Straitsmouth Inn, which stood on Gap Head from 1906 until it burned to the ground on New Year’s Eve in 1958. Built and operated by Ella S. Wilkinson, the inn could accommodate 100 guests. Postmarked … Continue reading →

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Pigeon Cove Harbor and Sandy Bay, circa 1912

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

This postcard of Pigeon Cove is not dated. The derrick scow in the center of the photo appears to be the same one shown in an earlier post here putting granite blocks on the Sandy Bay breakwater. That earlier postcard … Continue reading →

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Granite Quarry, Rockport, Mass., circa 1910

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

As I noted in an earlier post, granite quarrying was long a major activity in Rockport, with granite first commercially excavated here in 1823. The most prominent of the quarry companies, the Rockport Granite Company, was in business from 1865 … Continue reading →

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Harbor Looking East, Rockport, Mass., 1907

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

This postcard shows the eastern side of Rockport harbor, looking out towards the Headlands, with Atlantic Avenue to the right. Note the fishermen’s shacks and the paucity of homes along Atlantic Avenue. The card was published by The Rotograph Co. and … Continue reading →

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Rockport Commuter Rail Crippled by Snow, 91 Years Ago

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

Off topic a bit, but while doing some research I came across this timely article from the Feb. 6, 1920, Boston Daily Globe: Boston Hit By Most Severe Blizzard in Years, Snow Paralyzing Traffic. In a parallel we can well … Continue reading →

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Town Hall, Rockport, Mass., circa 1910

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

This impressive-looking building, with its enormous, church-like windows, no longer stands. (If you know when it was torn down, please let me know.) As quiet as it looks in this postcard, it was sometimes the scene of major social events. … Continue reading →

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Memorial Hall, Rockport, Mass., 1911

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

I have seen this building referred to as the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and then later as Veterans Memorial Hall. From what I can gather, it was in active use as a veterans’ hall from at least … Continue reading →

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A Bit of Rockport, Mass., 1905

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Robert Ambrogi

This view of Rockport, taken from White Wharf and looking out over Old Harbor, is copyright 1905 and postmarked 1906. It was published by The Rotograph Co. of New York City. It is interesting to compare this photo on the … Continue reading →

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