The Cape Ann Tool Company was a sprawl child, rather sprawl children of the original Blacksmith Shop which served the rapidly growing Rockport Granite Company.
And above it, stood Pigeon Hill, the sentinel landmark.
This image is well before the 1930s debacle in which the town placed its water tower atop Pigeon Hill.
Cynthia Peckham’s grandfather (W.G. Peckham) dressed as Uncle Sam (a.k.a. ‘The June Bug’) and delivered his 4th of July Oration beneath the old Elm Tree at Dock Square.
July 4, 1896 W.G. Peckham has something to say in his Usual Way. Town Meeting, Orators, Local Celebrities and Other Things Come in for Their Share of Scoring.
“As I came upon this stage, my heart almost fails me, as I look over this great body of people, but after such a flattering introduction, I feel imperatively called upon to respond, feeble though it may be. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my heart and hand to this cause. I trust that some such feeling pervades my breast upon this glorious morning.
Herewith I present to you a biographical, theological, metaphysical, statistical, geological, geographical, historical, phrenological and chronological view of this great glorious country.” from The June Bug’s Oration
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Through the decades, Rockport’s celebrations of the Fourth of July varied both in regularity of observation and in what group was the “featured sponsor. Here we see W.G. Peckham dressed as Uncle Sam (a.k.a. “The June Bug”) delivering his 4th of July Oration beneath the old Elm Tree at Dock Square.
Over the first 50 years of Rockport’s standing on its own as a town (incorporated in 1840) the celebration of the Fourth of July varied both in regularity of observation and in what group was featured as sponsor.
The image below is from the 1898 Fourth of July parade. Uncle Sam sits in the buggy at lower right.
Rockport History 