Timeline of Gloucester, Massachusetts facts for kids
Gloucester, Massachusetts, is a historic city in the United States, famous for its fishing industry and beautiful coastline. This timeline shares some of the most important moments in Gloucester's history, from its early days as a settlement to the modern era.
Early History of Gloucester
- 1606 – The explorer Samuel de Champlain visits and anchors in a place he calls "Beauport."
- 1623 – Settlers from the Dorchester Company arrive and set up a fishing base at Stage Fort Park.
- 1630 or 1631 – A group of Pilgrims, led by Abraham Robinson, starts a settlement and fishing spot in Annisquam.
- 1642 – The area officially becomes the Town of Gloucester.
- 1660 – The Edward Harraden house is built.
- 1698 – Gloucester's first school house is built, and Thomas Riggs becomes the first school master.
- 1700 – A Congregational Church is started in West Gloucester (around this time).
- 1709 – The Davis-Freeman house is built.
- 1710 – The White-Ellery House is built.
- 1713 – The Schooner type of ship, known for its speed, begins operating in Gloucester.
- 1716 – The Second Parish Church is officially recognized.
- 1720 – The Dyke-Wheeler house is built.
- 1728 – The Third Parish Church is established.
- 1739 – A large "meeting-house" is built near the harbor.
- 1740 – The Babson-Alling house is built.
- 1765 – Gloucester's population reaches 3,763 people.
- 1771 – The Cape Ann Light is built on Thacher Island to guide ships.
- 1775 – The Battle of Gloucester takes place during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1789 – A U.S. custom house is set up to collect taxes on goods.
- 1790 – The population grows to 5,317.
- 1792 – The Gloucester post office opens.
- 1796 – The Gloucester Bank is established.
The 1800s: Growth and Change
Early 1800s
Procter Bros., publishers, est. 1857
- 1801 – The Annisquam Harbor Light is built.
- 1805 – A daily stagecoach service begins, connecting Gloucester to Boston.
- 1806 – The First Universalist Church is built.
- 1808 – The First Baptist Church is founded.
- 1819 – Nearby Essex becomes its own town.
- 1821 – The Ten Pound Island Light is built.
- 1827 – The Gloucester Telegraph newspaper starts publishing.
- 1828 – The First Parish Church is built on Middle Street.
- 1830
- The Gloucester Lyceum, a place for public lectures and discussions, is established.
- A large fire breaks out on September 30.
- The population reaches 7,510.
- 1831 – The Eastern Point Light is built.
- 1832 – The Gloucester Circulating Library opens on Front Street.
- 1835 – The Straitsmouth Island Light is built.
- 1840
- Part of Gloucester becomes the new town of Rockport.
- The population is 6,350.
- 1844 – The Town Hall is built.
- 1847
- A railway line begins operating, connecting Gloucester to other areas.
- The artist Fitz Hugh Lane moves to Gloucester.
- 1849 – The Fitz Henry Lane house and the Pavilion Hotel are built.
- 1850 – The population is 7,786.
- 1855 – Timothy Davis becomes a US representative for Massachusetts.
- 1857 – Procter Brothers, a publishing company, starts its business.
Late 1800s
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- 1860 – The population grows to 10,904.
- 1861 – A railway line to Rockport begins operating.
- 1864 – The First National Bank opens for business.
- 1869 – The Town Hall burns down on May 16.
- 1870 – The population reaches 15,389.
- 1871 – The new Gloucester City Hall is built.
- 1872 – The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library combine.
- 1873
- Gloucester officially changes from a town to a city.
- The YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) is founded.
- 1874 – Robert R. Fears becomes Gloucester's first city mayor.
- 1880 – The population is 19,329.
- 1882 – Russia Cement Co., a company making glue, starts its business.
- 1885 – A horse-drawn street railway begins operating in Gloucester.
- 1888 – The Gloucester Daily Times newspaper starts publishing.
- 1892 – Gloucester celebrates its 250th anniversary as a town.
- 1897 – The Addison Gilbert Hospital is built.
- 1898 – The S.S. Portland ship is lost at sea in a famous shipwreck.
- 1899 – Ravenswood Park, a beautiful natural area, is established.
The 1900s: Modern Times
- 1900 – The population reaches 26,121.
- 1906 – Gorton-Pew Fisheries, a major seafood company, starts its business.
- 1907 – The Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, a famous historic house, is expanded.
- 1914 – Our Lady of Good Voyage Church is rebuilt.
- 1920 – The population is 22,947.
- 1921 – The Chamber of Commerce is established to support local businesses.
- 1922 – The North Shore Art Association is founded.
- 1923 – Gloucester celebrates 300 years since European settlers arrived. The design for the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial is chosen.
- 1925 – General Seafood Corporation, a company known for frozen foods, starts its business.
- 1926 – The Adventure (schooner) ship is launched.
- 1929 – Hammond Castle, a unique medieval-style castle, is built.
- 1969 – The Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association is founded to support fishing families.
- 1979 – The Gloucester Stage Company, a theater group, is founded.
- 1991 – On October 28, the ship Andrea Gail is lost at sea during the powerful 1991 Perfect Storm.
- 1997 – John F. Tierney becomes the US representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.
- 1998 – The city's website goes online.
The 2000s and Beyond
- 2002 – John Bell becomes mayor.
- 2004 – Gloucester establishes a sister city relationship with Tamano, Japan.
- 2007 – The popular Good Morning Gloucester blog begins publishing online.
- 2008 – Carolyn Kirk becomes mayor.
- 2010 – The population is 28,789.
- 2013 – The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is founded, focusing on ocean science.
- 2015
- Sefatia Romeo Theken becomes mayor.
- Seth Moulton becomes the US representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.
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Timeline of Gloucester, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.