The Halloween Storm of 1991

Picture of the storm, 1991 along the "Backshore" of Gloucester

In 1991, a hurricane formed inside a Nor'easter as the result of 3 large weather masses colliding. "The Halloween Storm", has been also been referred to as the "Unnamed Storm" because the storm itself, was a trilogy of weather events which only occurs every 50 to 100 years.  It is actually, the 8th storm never to be named.  The massive storm was the last of 4 hurricanes that occurred that year during the Atlantic hurricane season.  October has traditionally been the month when hurricanes and storms can brew, and it is particularly dangerous for fishing vessels. 

On a personal note....

I moved to Gloucester, in January of 2001, just about a decade after the Storm.  The book, "The Perfect Storm" had been published by Sebastian Junger in 1997, and the movie of the same title, had just been released in June of 2000.  

The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center was in its infancy, and I spent a lot of time volunteering there.  It was there, that the Lady Grace, the fishing vessel who portrayed the Andrea Gail in the movie was docked.  I remember that all of the wood that had been used by Warner Brothers to reinforce the dock to support its crew and movie-gear in the surrounding area was still in place.  Locally, the city was abuzz with the release of the movie, and the locals wasted no time in separating fact from fiction.  I was fortunate enough to learn the facts.  Meanwhile, the Lady Grace was docked in front of the Schooner Adventure, and there she stayed for a few years.

Source:  myweb.northshore.edu

I don't remember who, but after about a year of giving tours to visitors from all over the world, someone finally gave me a tour of inside of fishing vessel, the Lady Grace.  I was able to walk into bridge, and to see the fish holds and the engine room.  I remember seeing painted rust and how it felt incredibly sad to me, as all I could think of was the reason WHY the boat was here, and it's purpose at that time.  I kind of choked up, and felt genuine heartbreak for the Andrea Gail.  It is now strange to remember that at that time, I had thought about size of the vessel, and how easily the Andrea Gail could be at the mercy of such a storm, in such a big sea.  

I had personally witnessed a very large storm in March of 2001, where the sea had risen to such an extent, (about 20 feet) it was actually breaking at road level on the Back-Shore of Gloucester's Eastern Point. The road had been blocked off by authorities and I stood about a block above it, watching the intensity of the sea toss and roll it's foamy waves while white caps broke far into the horizon.  It was very exciting, and very frightening at the same time.  

I suppose the book and the movie, will forever drive the economy of Gloucester, and that's a good thing.  I respectfully ask that those who visit Cape Ann, will take a moment to pause at the famous Fisherman's Statue, and the Fisherman's Wives statue, along Stacey's Boulevard to remember all that were lost at sea, respectfully.

The Trilogy of the Storm

I.   On October 27, 1991, Hurricane Grace had formed off the coast of Florida. As she moved north on October 29, an extratropical cyclone formed over Canada. "The counterclockwise motion of this low pressure zone left a trailing cold front over much of the Northern Atlantic coast. The cold front would later catch up with the dying hurricane. Grace would later make the retrograde turn to the east in response."

II.   "A low pressure system formed over Canada and ran into Hurricane Grace off the coast of Nova Scotia tearing the already-downgraded hurricane apart. There was intense wind shear that acted as a hurricane-breaker, but the low pressure system absorbed much of the energy of Hurricane Grace. The low pressure system reached a peak intensity of 972 millibars of pressure and maximum sustained winds of 60 knots on October 30. The later movement of this low pressure system over warmer 80+ degree Gulf Stream waters served to intensify the storm in the same way tropical storms are intensified by warm ocean waters in the tropics."

III.  A strong, high pressure "center extended from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward along the Appalachians into Greenland. Strong winds were generated from the tight pressure gradient between a strong high pressure center in eastern Canada and the surface low."  Source: weather.about.com

13 people died.

In Massachusetts, over 100 homes were destroyed mainly in Marshfield, North Beach and Brant Point.

25 foot waves along with the high tide were 4 feet above normal.

It has been stated that the damage rivaled the infamous "Blizzard of 1978", with the tide being recorded as only 1 foot less than the famous Blizzard.

Approximately 38,000 people were without electric power.

Rivers flooded as tides increased, and a buoy near Nova Scotia publicized the highest wave ever recorded at 100.7 feet!

Near Long Island, an Air National Guard helicopter crashed as the result of running out of fuel.  Of the helicopter's crew of 4, one died.

High waves took the lives of 2 people in Rhode Island and Puetro Rico, and another person was swept away off a bridge due to high winds and was killed.

Slick roads in Newfoundland caused another person to die in a car crash, relating to the storm.

Remembering the Andrea Gail

The Andrea Gail was a commercial fishing vessel that sank, during the "Perfect Storm" of 1991.  All  6 passengers were forever lost at sea.

The Andrea Gail was 72 feet in length and was built in Panama City, Florida in 1978.  Its owner was Robert Brown, who originally named the boat Miss Penny.  The fishing vessel called its home port Marblehead, Massachusetts, but she also sailed from Gloucester, and this is from where she left on her final voyage.

It is believed that during the last time that the boat fished, they had had a very successful run.  Surely, the Captain had gained information about the storm(s) but had most likely planned on beating it back to the safety of shore.  Though, we will never know the exact circumstances of her demise, we do know that the crew of the Andrea Gail found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time; which was, right smack in the middle of the "beast".

Tragically, the Captain had to make a decision.  Having a full cargo of swordfish, the Andrea Gail was faced with the ultimate choice.  It had to seek safe haven in quieter waters as it faced the storm or try to continue to shore.  Either way, it was like a tiny buoy that had been ripped from its anchor in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean and left to the fate of the storm gods.

Inside the bridge of the Andrea Gail (source: Pinterest)

She was last reported to be in the vicinity of Sable Island on October 28, 1991.   Captain Billy Tyne gave his last coordinates to Captain Linda Greenlaw as 44°00′N 56°40′W - which is roughly 162 miles east of Sable Island. At that time, he reported waves between 30 to 40 feet, and wind gusts up to 80 knots, which would be about 150 mph.  I believe Sebastian Junger, author of the book "The Perfect Storm", made an analogy to picture a 4 story house coming at you.

Crew of the Andrea Gail

Frank W. "Billy" Tyne, Jr. (Captain), aged 34 from Gloucester, Massachusetts

Michael "Bugsy" Moran, aged 36, Florida

Dale R. "Murph" Murphy, aged 30, Bradenton Beach, Florida

Alfred Pierre, aged 32,  New York City

Robert F. "Bobby" Shatford, aged 30,  Gloucester, Massachusetts

David "Sully" Sullivan, aged 29, Gloucester, Massachusetts









Photo Credits for the storm, storm damage, crew, and of the Andrea Gail, above: dingeengoete.blogspot.com/2012/10/this-day-in-history-oct-30-1991-perfect.html 

ECO SHOPPING in Vermont

ECO SHOPPING in VERMONT

If you know me, you will agree that one of my quirks is a profound love of thrift shops.  I have been haunting these places since I was about 14 or 15 years old.  

I remember how I discovered that unique, cool stuff could be found in these places, by asking my friend's sister where she bought her [way cool, embroidered gauzy boho/gypsy] shirt?  She told me she had purchased it in a thrift shop in Rutland called "Gypsy's".  And a star was born....

This paragraph has been edited for clarification:
In 2001 to 2003, I was so very, very fortunate to have been hired as the Store Manager at The Second Glance ReSale Shop in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The store (still in operation) supports hunger relief efforts for The Open Door.  (Every dollar beyond operating costs supports hunger relief program for Cape Ann) The generosity of that community was beyond wonderful.  I bought many items while I worked there, most of which I still own.  I loved dickering with people, and I think they loved it, too.  I loved this job!

If you visit the City of Gloucester, be sure to check out  Bananas where you will find a lovely selection of both new and vintage clothing - always clean and pristine.  Tell Richard or Debbie that I sent you! :)

"The Hunt" - why I love thrift

First of all, I have said countless times that to me, "the hunt" is the fun.  The challenge.  Go ahead into your local mall, and have a look around.  Yesterday, I went into the local mall where I found the same styles hung in multiplicity.  There was no sense of adventure, no discovery; and, quite frankly, there was nothing unique or interesting.  When I shop thrift, it feels as if I can find something that says "me" - almost always in perfect to excellent condition, often with the original tags still on it.  Like they say on the television show - you'll never know WHAT will walk through that door.

The difficulty of the "hunt" is commonly too many clothes on a rack, jammed in like sardines, but I've been doing this so long, that I can scan a rack, and if the fabric is interesting or catches my eye, I will examine it.  I normally won't pull out every article to look at it. 

Let your eyes do the walking - look around, under racks and against the walls.  Open drawers and dig in boxes.  

Create your own style

This is another factor that I truly love about shopping at a thrift or re-store.  I think most of my clothing makes a statement about me, and I am frequently complimented on my clothing.  At home, I love to show off what I have bought for furniture or goods - and then tell you the price tag.  Find something that makes a statement about "you", would be my advise.

When you hit it, you hit it.  When you don't you don't:

Save money

Here is the biggest factor about shopping thrift.  Go ahead, look online or go into a store for comparison.  If you have never done this, it is definitely worth your time. Instead of going into a long diatribe about the obvious, let me just share with you some of my best finds:

4 Solid Mahogany, ornate dining room chairs - total cost?  $2.00 each!  I found them at an estate sale, in Plainfield, Vermont .(I bought new suede to recover them for about $24.00.  Still, worth the price.)

2 over sized red velvet pottery barn chair covers, still in the bag, never opened..  Original price tag $699.00 each (that's $1,398.00 total).  I bought both of them for $8.00.

Ralph Lauren crocheted vest w/ the tags still on it.  Original price?  $159.00 - I paid .75 cents, in Saugerties, New York.

Large Victorian Chaise Lounge - $40.00 (needed to be reupholstered - that's not a problem for me, I did it my self!)

Victorian red velvet covered mini love seat in excellent condition, and did not require reupholstering- $50.00

Hand-Carved Colbalt Salt Glazed Williamsburg pottery vase - .25 cents

2 pairs of Jessica Simpson boots (in the box/never worn) - original price?  $198 each.  I got them - free, at a church give away.

Wilson Leather coat, hooded and lined, tags still on it, never worn - original price tag was $499.00?  Yup.  I got it Free at the same give away....and an extra bonus was finding another free one for summer time when Russ and I travel on the motorcycle.

This was a very short list of things that I have found out hunting, and I maintain my bragging rights!

Pass it on  

My mantra is to pass it on. Who doesn't like to get a bag of clothes from a family member or a friend?  

Didn't fit?  Don't like it after all?  Not really your style? 

Give it away, sell it, or consign it.  Pass it on!  You are still recycling, and saving.

And of course, the 3-R's...

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 

Open your mind when looking around one of these stores.  Like it but not sure?  Can you recover it? paint it? glue it? stain it? sew it?  Don't let a little laziness let you loose sight of the big picture!

Check out some of the amazing "Up-Cycling" that people are doing (pictured below). In my opinion it is a gift to the world, as it's eco-friendly.  These crafty and creative people really deserve some credit!

If you get sick of stuff, have a yard sale and make a few bucks back.  Donate the rest.  Just don't bring it back into your house! 

Rinse, wash, repeat.

Up-Cycled Products - Look what YOU can do!

Upcycling is cool, in my humble opinion!

Castle By The Sea ~ Hammond Castle

Gloucester, Massachusetts:  Hammond Castle.  I love Gloucester.  Gloucester was my home for close to a decade, and to me, Gloucester is Heaven on Earth.  Being currently "land-locked", I miss the ocean, my friends, the saline smell, the boats around the harbor, the beaches and the rocky coast.

The last time I visited Hammond Castle [by the sea] was in 2007.  It was a stormy morning, and fortunately, there were not a lot of tourists lurking about on this day.  One could peer out of the castle windows and watch the waves crash against the rocky coast below, spraying mist high into the sky.  You could hear the mighty crashing, and the wind howling through the windows and walls.... It made for a perfect tour!  (At the time of my last visit, I lived across the harbor and could see Hammond from my kitchen and library windows!)

                

 

"Hammond Castle was built from 1926 to 1929 by John Hammond, making the castle just short of a century old, but it has all of the flavor and relics of a grand European castle.  John  Hammond was a very important inventor of this time.  Some compare his inventions "on par" with Thomas Edison."

"John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle ...to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. The castle was constructed as a wedding present for his wife Irene Fenton Hammond to prove how much he cared for her."

 "His adult life was shaped by childhood experiences. When his family moved to England, Hammond fell in love with castles and life in earlier times. In South Africa, he saw his father's work as the mining engineer of Cecil Rhodes's diamond mines.

When the family moved to Washington, D.C., Hammond met Thomas Alva Edison, who introduced him to Alexander Graham Bell. Under Bell's direction, Hammond worked as a clerk in the United States Patent Office. Hammond attended Lawrenceville School, invented, and studied at Yale University, graduating in 1910."

Rare photo of John Hays and Irene Fenton Hammond          building the castle

"He experimented with radio controlled boats, and started the Hammond Radio Research Corporation in 1911. In 1914 he successfully guided an unmanned forty-four foot ship from Gloucester to Boston and back, a round trip of 120 miles, using his patented “System for Radio Control of Moving Bodies.”

He developed a radio controlled torpedo system and submarine sound transmission for the navy. Hammond developed the "dynamic multiplier" (today's stereo), and was an FM radio pioneer. He had 437 inventions and held over 800 patents.

In 1926 he began building his castle home in Gloucester, Massachusetts, for his wife, Irene Fenton. The castle included a laboratory where Hammond continued to work. For a time Nikola Tesla lived on Hammond's estate.

Hammond received the Elliot Cresson Medal from Philadelphia's Franklin Institute which named him the “father of radio control.” He also received the Medal of Honor from the Institute of Radio Engineers in 1962 and 1963."  (bio by: rjschatz/FindAGrave)

The Eccentric John Hammond

Hammond was quite a local character in his day. An inventor by trade, he expressed his eccentric streak in a number of unusual ways. He once sent a pilotless, remote controlled fishing boat zooming around the harbor, scaring the fishermen.

Invention Room

Another view of Invention Room

His eclectic collection of art, antiques, and curiosities include the skull of one of Christopher Columbus’ crewmen, numerous tombstones and grave markers from Europe. Hammond used to wander the grounds in a long monk’s robe with the cowl drawn up over his head.  He was a frustrated writer who had been steered away from publishing by his domineering father. Hammond wrote numerous horror stories and bawdy plays that were performed by his guests during wild parties.

Antiquated doorway in the Castle

On your way down to the basement level, don't miss this skeleton behind bars, which is permanently
entombed at the side of the staircase.  There is but a small window to peer through (often a red light shines
over the skeleton).  It is actually easy to miss if you aren't looking.

Medieval Fresco

Hammond's wealth allowed him to not only indulge his taste in art, but also some of his other eccentricities. For example, pictured below is the castle's indoor pool, which Hammond enjoyed diving naked into from a second floor balcony. The pool is surrounded not only by Medieval storefronts he brought from Europe, but also a Roman sarcophagus and some other Roman funeral monuments.

Roman sarcophagus

 

Above, Photographs of the indoor "pool" area

Hammond's parties were probably a lot of fun, but I wouldn't want to be his overnight guest. The doors in one guest room are covered with wallpaper to blend seamlessly with the walls, and Hammond could shut them remotely from another room. He had a good laugh when his guests panicked at not being able to find their way out of the room, but let's just be happy there wasn't a fire.

The Hidden (invisible) Door

Main Staircase 

Hammond the Spiritualist

Hammond's taste for the macabre and creepy didn't stop at funerary art and hidden doors. He also owned the skull of one of Christopher Columbus's crew men, and kept it in a Buddhist manuscript container. If you visit the castle and want to see the skull, it's in the Great Hall tucked in an alcove near the piano.

Skull in alcove

Even though he was a scientist, Hammond had a strong curiosity about life beyond the grave. He and his wife loved cats, and would have elaborate funerals for each of their pet cats when it died. He frequently said he wanted to be reincarnated as a cat. After his death in 1965 a large black cat appeared in the house and would often sit in his favorite chair. 

The Faraday Cage

An avid spiritualist, Hammond was fascinated with the occult. Terry L. Milner, in his December 27, 1996, MindNet article, “Ratting Out Puharich," Hammond conducted frequent séances in the Castle and invited psychics to the Castle to participate in scientific experiments designed to prove that psychic energy really existed and to enhance it if possible.

Psychic, Mrs. Garrett

While they were alive the Hammonds also experimented with Spiritualism and tried to contact spirits of the dead. Hammond even built a Faraday Cage to block electric currents and asked psychic mediums to contact the dead from inside the cage. The intention was to limit interference from the living world and enable them to more more purely contact the spirits. The floor of the castle's Great Hall has a permanent bleached spot from the cage's electromagnetic current.

Investigations Into the Occult

The circular library was one of Hammond’s favorite places and he spent a lot of time in there. He owned an extensive collection of books on the occult, which are still on the shelves. Caretakers have reported finding these books opened and lying on the desk or carelessly thrown onto the furniture. Disembodied voices are often heard in here, as well as throughout the rest of the castle.

Hauntings in the Castle

Hammond secretly married local divorcee Irene Fenton in 1926. 

Irene suffered frequent depressions and gradually became reclusive and unhappy in the marriage. 

An accomplished artist, she painted the walls of her bedroom with lush scenes of animals, trees, and flowers - and then painted a wide railing over it showing how trapped she felt. 

Guests often see her gazing out through a window in the Italian villa front that overlooks the Roman pool.

4 Photos above:  Different views of the Hammond Organ

Harpsicord in Hammond Castle

Today the castle is often the setting for weddings. These weddings are often attended by unknown and uninvited figures that circulate among the guests, vanishing when anyone tries to get close to them. Additionally a shadowy figure frequents the balcony above the organ.

Irene died in 1959. After her death, she was interred in the Fenton family plot in Gloucester's Mount Pleasant Cemetery rather than in the above-ground mausoleum that Hammond had built for himself. In 1965, Hammond died and was buried in the sepulcher, whose steps run from the tomb’s door down directly into the sea. He was interred with some of his Siamese cats which had been preserved in formaldehyde; visitors to the tomb have reported hearing the muffled sounds of crying cats. Guests touring the castle have reported feeling a small animal brush up against their legs.

Sepulcher built for Irene Fenton Hammond - She was never laid to rest here.  She is buried at  Mt. Pleasant Cemetery

In 2008, against Hammond’s express wishes, his body was removed and re-interred in a bronze vault inside the Cat Garden, a walled enclosure which is part of the immediate Castle grounds. According to an article in the Gloucester Daily Times, the mausoleum property will be sold off to pay for Castle upkeep. It remains to be seen what effect this move will have on paranormal activity at the Castle.
Sources:  Suite 101/New England Folklore

Statuary and miscellaneous art around the Castle

                   

 

            

         

Burmese Buddhist Manuscript Case - a gift from Henry Sleeper (Beauport, Gloucester, MA) - This case was displayed with a light inside of it to show case the beautiful glass work  Please note:  I plan to post soon about Henry Sleeper.  Another Gloucester eccentric, with a fabulous home by the sea.

At Hammond Castle there is also a Blacksmith's Shop, which is not open to the public:

Inside the Castle:  

Castle Library 

Castle Dining Room

Servant's Room

Another view of Servant's room

A Servant's Quarters

Bedroom

Bathroom

View of Great Hall

Great Hall Fire Place

                                  

Medieval Bedroom

Pictures of Hammond Family (Genealogy) 

             

Kitchen

Sitting Room which overlooks the harbor

Another view of the kitchen and collections

Sitting area, with ocean view

Looking up into the Tower

Medieval chair with stained glass back ground

Sitting Room

Small Dining Room

Early American Bedroom

Grand bell which has its own quarters outside of the castle

Medieval shutters