Starting in the early 20’s thru the 70’s Rockport was a huge artist colony ‘Favorite subject MOTIF #1 —This is the original —Storm of 78 took it out and it was rebuilt— This picture is early 50’s. The red is the original color —Not really a red —N
Motif #1 circa 1960—Tuna Wharf behind it
Repainted version
Rockport Harbor from Cong. Church Steeple— Late 40’ s early 50’s
Fire -Police station —Broadway Police station has since moved to upper Main Building is made of solid granite from local Quarries in mid 1800’s
View of Cong Church from Harbor
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Tuna Wharf —Circa 2015
Main Street —The Teal Green building is where Paul and May Malloy lived
Front Beach —We “lived” here from 8 AM to 5 PM almost every day
Bon Fire ready to go on Back Beach — 100 year tradition —2014
View of front beach from Peg Leg
Spiran Hall -right across from Tarr School —The Movie theater was up stairs Little Art Cinema -Seating capacity was about 25.
Entrance to LAC —
Fishing shack —One of the original remaining few on the wharf
Harbor from Headlands
Gloucester Harbor
Roy Moore Lobster Company— An institution —75 plus years old Moore was a math teacher and a lobster man
Harbor —Dock Sq Side
Famous Bearskin Neck —Once nothing but old fishing shacks —than artist galleries —now souvenir shops and whatever —2016
Harbor from Atlantic Ave
Ketcholoupus Market —Broadway and School St across from Spiran Hall and Tarr school Our version of a super market back then.
Christmas Morning 1950 Dock Square -Santa came and handed out a cotton string bag with Peanuts , apple Oranges and a box of gum drops Now look real close —See the women in white coat to the right —Next to her is a Marine holding a child —Guess
Old Sloop Church (Congregational Church) —Steeple renovation —2015 Located on Main street. Had the distinction of having a cannon ball lodge in one of its supports when the British tried to silence the bell when they landed in town.
Steeple
Bell was cast in late 1700’s
Rockport was a tourist haven and had all these beautiful summer Hotels-all made of wood and heavily insured This was the TURKS HEAD — a five star facility located next to the Ocean I remember not only the hotel but also when it burnt to
Another beautiful hotel —the Straitsmouth and another mysterious fire 2 years after the Turks head and again on New Years Eve
D ock Square —Remember the Xmas tree photo —same place —mid 1800 ’s
T he key on this post card is the smoke stack in the background It’s the Old Cotton mill —later site of Rockport High school and Tarr schoo l
Rockport had a bowling alley on Bearskin Neck in early 1900’s Located right across from the Pewter shop
Bearskin Neck —Early 1900’s —Pewter shop in Middle Bowling alley is on right
Back before climate concerns —This was Rockport MOST of the winter Snow —Snow and more Snow —Main street —Circa late 50’s to 60’
Front Beach 1960 whats interesting here is the large beige building oin the background —The Red Mens Hall —Beautiful old building which was the gathering spot for the now defunct Redmen’s organization (like the Elks ) Torn down and replaced by
Haskin’s Hospital —Top of Summit ave Small private hospital that could handle about 10-12 patients. Why post this ? Well it was the only hospital Rockport ever had and when they tore it down in late 50’s -Keith and I had to help my dad salvage
Another shot of Bearskin neck and the Pewter shop Now the Pewter shop has history in the family -My grandmothe was an artist who worked with Pewter and sold items from the shop .The owners of the PS eventually sold the shop to the Murch family
End of the line —Old train station — In Rockport —Still there but in its day a bustling place as day trippers came in by Steam engine into Rockpor t
Train Station
Tarr School — Where most of us went to elementary school, until community school on Jerden’s lane was built However this was not orginally a school -This was the machine shop for the big cotton mill that sat right behind it . The mill was 4 st
Another view of Main street and based on horse and wagon late 1800’s/ early 1900’s This is at School and Main and that big tall building was Town hall and later the Madras shop.
Here’s what it look like today just looking down the street vs up
First Rockport High School —On site of the Old cotton Mill — Tarr school is just up the street and harbor is 200 yards down the street Grades 7-12 went here until new school was built in mid 60s We had split sessions Grades 10-12 wen
Home for The Keatings Parker street— Note the milk bottles for the milk man /Terry the brindle boxer Approx 8 foot from the right kitchen window the house ended and 10 ft from the left living room windoxw
Parker Street —after the addition —Prior to thatt it was 2 bedrooms and about 700 sq feetWe added one bedroom and a 20 ft longer living room with fireplace —however it was never meant for 6 of us.
Parker Street 2017
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This is a great picture for many reasons —Note the Trees —Rockport was covered with these big beautiful Elm trees Every street had these trees —I remember them on Parker Street,all along back beach-But than they got destroyed within 10 years by
Same shot of Poole’s Drug store (long gone) today
Another view of Front beach from opposite direction But whats different here is this picture is late 1800’s early 1900’s -Note Yellow building -Old firehouse -Tower was used to hang out the canvas hoses to dry —Building later became sea scout
T he other old Fire house in Dock Square —Later was the VFW hall
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Kerry s house
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Brunch Right to Left Elizabeth , Caroline (my youngest) , Ingrid, Corbin (Kerry’s son) , Kerry ,Sarah (Patrick’s) wife
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View from Old Carnegie library to Main street-Front Beach is behind the white building
T his is just yards from Kerrys house- in fact that is Kerry Look further up the street black house on the right is Parker st Big space at the end of the street —Huge Elm was once there
Keith 2008 — Oct 24,1952 / March 30,2020
Here we go —This was at Patrick s wedding 2017 and we are at Dock Square —(Christmas Tree Pic ) Left to Right —-Corbin- (Kerrys son) , Kevin Jr, Stephanie(Kevin’s wife) Haley (my daughter) Me ,Anna (my daugt) Caroline (my daught) , Jesse (Carol
Corbin Bryan, Patrick , me ( I officiated the wedding) Kevin Jr
Kevin Jr, Patrick , Kyle (kirks son, )Corbin Bryan, Caroiline Anna Haley
My group -Jesse, Stephanie,Kevin Jr,Caroline,Me, Elizabeth, Bryan Anna and Haley Caoitlin and Jesse missing
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Uncle Guinness Long story
Our family with Sarah’s immediate family
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Kirk/ Cheryl
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View from the old library and our street to front beach
Carnegie library Sold by the town and converted into a private home —Crying shame —
Corbin —Keeping the tradition
Dad’s Marker at Police memorial
Elizabeth Chicago Marathon One of about 40 she has run
Kevin Keating Family Caroline’s Wedding Oct 17 Left to Right Bryan , Jesse (Caitlin’s husband with Jack), Anna , Caitlin (with Lucy), Jesse (yes another -Groom ) Caroline, Me , Elizabeth , Keira ( (Kevin’s ) youngest ) Haley
The youngest — Keating Jack
The Keatings Patrick and May (Maria)
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Carolines
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