Series- 100 year Old Gloucester Postcards From Peter Dorsey- The Magnolia Road

img517

Peter writes-

Joey,

I have a big box of old postcards, and I realize that a few of them are from Gloucester, Mass.  Perhaps your readers would like to see some of them. I’ll send you a few here. Maybe I can find some more in my big box. I’ll send them from time to time; if you like.  My father was born in a house near the cut in 1919, and his father worked as a scientist for Mr. Hammond (of the castle);so I have a historical attachment to Gloucester.

I always think its amazing to see the changes that occur in just 100 years, and am glad to have the chance to study old pictures and share them when I can.

I really enjoy Good Morning Gloucester!

Peter Dorsey

6 thoughts on “Series- 100 year Old Gloucester Postcards From Peter Dorsey- The Magnolia Road

  1. Nice series of post cards. This one reminded me of a few negatives I have that were titled “Big Heater Road” and “Little Heater Road.” They look a lot like the road in the post card. Anybody know what theses names mean?

    Like

    1. “Heater” referred to taking one’s horses out to warm them up (or heat them up) and keep them limber. The “Big Heater” was the circuit leading from the Cut Bridge to School Street in Manchester, thence to Essex and back down Rte. 133 to the Cut. The “Little Heater” also began at the Cut, with a right turn onto Magnolia Avenue up to 133 and then back to the Cut. Of course you could run your horse counter-clockwise as well. Either way, the animal returned to its barn all properly heated.

      Like

      1. Adding to that — from those descriptions came the name “Little Heater” for Magnolia Avenue and “Big Heater” for School Street (Manchester)/Southern Avenue (Essex).

        Like

Leaving a comment rewards the author of this post- add to the discussion here-