De Hirsh Margules, Mother Ann Lighthouse, Eastern Point, Gloucester, 1946. Gouache on paper. Gift of Jean M. Horblit, 2002. [Acc. #2002.004.002]
Manchester Cricket: Walk (Not Quite) a Mile in Their Shoes: Experiencing CAM’s Revolutionary Cape Ann History Walking Tour
By Anna Phalen, August 7, 2025
“Just imagine, residents walking from their homes on Middle Street, across Main Street, and down to Gloucester Harbor to board their private vessels and fight for American Independence.”
Last Friday, the Cape Ann Museum (CAM) offered a “Patriots and Privateers of Revolutionary Middle Street” walking tour to highlight the notable role of Gloucester during the American Revolution. The tour series comes on the heels of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill and its official reenactment, hosted last month at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester as part of the nation’s “America250” celebration next year.
I decided to go and learn about how Cape Ann’s history ties into the story of America’s founding in 1776. Monica and Leslie, two well-versed CAM docents, led the group through historic homes and landmarks along Gloucester’s Middle Street.
It was genuinely surprising. We viewed Revolutionary and merchant Captain Joseph Foster’s 1760 house. We saw the residence of feminist Judith Sargent Murray, and walked by the meeting places tied to her second husband, Universalist Church founder John Murray.
And we learned of the historic sites lost over the years, with photos and paintings shown by our docents on the tour to fill in the gaps. Some lost landmarks have been long replaced with modern conveniences, like the once lively “Brohme Tavern” that, today, is a parking lot. Or America’s first Universalist Church meeting house, which now serves cups of coffee as a Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street.
Weaving tales of naval sea battles with flying cannonballs, the docents educated and entertained us as we walked down Middle Street. I learned about the Battle of Gloucester of 1775, where the Gloucester townspeople heroically defended their town from intrusion by the British ship Falcon. Looking out onto the same harbor view from Middle Street, the residents, with little more than determination and a small stash of arms, launched a counterattack led by Captains Joseph Foster and Bradbury Sanders. In response, British commander John Linzee fired cannonballs into the heart of Gloucester, aiming for the First Parish Church (now the Temple Ahavat Achim) on Middle Street. Finally, after six hours of resistance, the British surrendered, marking an early naval victory and helping to position Gloucester as a key player in the Revolution. And those cannonballs the British fired? They now have a new home following the CAM’s campus renovation and can be viewed at the museum.
The early American Navy wasn’t an organized institution, as most would imagine. There were no state-owned battleships—the Continental Navy was not established until October 1775. Instead, early American maritime battles leaned heavily on privateers—privately-owned armed ships commissioned by the state. This was certainly the case during the time of the Revolution, where estimates suggest there were approximately 3,000 privateer vessels, with Gloucester and other coastal towns in Essex County contributing the vast majority of these privateers.
Just imagine, residents walking from their homes on Middle Street, across Main Street, and down to Gloucester Harbor to board their private vessels and fight for American Independence.
The docents described Gloucester’s seafaring ingenuity and commitment to the cause through a legendary story of the dockworkers of Gloucester constructing a much-needed defensive ship in a single morning.
Docent Monica brought to life some of Gloucester’s lesser-known history, including the townspeople’s non-battle involvement. She recounted how the Gloucester First Parish Church voters proudly registered their unanimous support for the Declaration of Independence with all 250 members marching to the west side of the church to signify their “yes.” She also shared a story of a clever worker on Gloucester Harbor who improvised a distraction to smuggle taxed goods past the British—because, really, what better way to stall a British officer than by subjecting him to an extensive smallpox fumigation process?
While the “Patriots and Privateers” walking tour is one option, the Cape Ann Museum has created tours on a variety of interesting topics, including explorations of Gloucester’s “Harbortown” and a recurring favorite that showcases artist Ed Hopper’s houses captured in his famous paintings.
One of the docents on this tour was Manchester’s own Leslie Beatty, who has been serving at the museum for roughly eight years and contributes to other CAM offerings, from its archives to informational talks.
Enhancing an already charming visual of historic Gloucester streets, the 90-minute tours are packed with riveting stories regarding Cape Ann’s long-rooted history in the American story, making them the perfect activity for curious locals and visitors alike.
Upcoming walking tours from the Cape Ann Museum:
August 9 / 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon | Harbor Views: The Paintings of Fitz Henry Lane Walking Tour
August 17 / 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon | Walking Tour: Historic Dogtown
August 22 / 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon | Walking Tour: Public Sculpture of Gloucester
For all dates, times, locations, and registration, visit capeannmuseum.org/programs/tours/
To read the full Manchester Cricket article, click here.
