Comments on: Travel Secret in Massachusetts

By: Dogtown dweller

Dogtown dweller — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:58:07 +0000

Fyi- Dogtown is an area in Gloucester, not Glouchester. A portion of Dogtown is in Rockport. The city of Gloucester and the town of Rockport comprise the island that is Cape Ann.
As with many islands, the middle is uninhabited and has been since around the time of the Civil War.
Despite Ms. East’s impressions of Dogtown, not all of us who were born and brought up in Gloucester and Rockport fear Dogtown.
Do we have a deep respect for Dogtown and its history that lead us to where we are so many generations later? Yes.
Do we understand that deeply wooded areas around the world often harbor disturbed or outcast or undesirable characters? Of course.
Do we enjoy walking through Dogtown to investigate the early settlers cellar holes; gathering blueberries, cranberries and bayberries in season; finding the myriad of geocaches hidden there, sometimes in plain sight; teaching hundreds of local school children who come to Dogtown to learn about their ancestors and their way of life, or to be inspired to sketch and paint what they see and feel while among the erratic boulders- Yes… Over and over again.
Some of us have lived and played around Dogtown all of our lives.
We been inspired there; we’ve been lost and found there; we’ve cleaned and pruned and thinned out trees there; and we’ve found sadness there. Some of us even live on Dogtown conservation land.
Occasionally an individual will,for whatever reasons, disrupt the safety, tranquility and culture of Dogtown as Peter Hodgkins did.
His actions and horrible actions of some who preceded him and will probably follow him, whether in Dogtown in Gloucester, Central Park or the Black Forest do not define that destination nor its inhabitants.
Does it all make for great reading? You bet!
I congratulate Elyssa East on her fine writing and ask that readers remember that she is sharing her own impressions of the Dotown that she found.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:39:47 +0000

Stick around, Andy. We’ll be visiting a different New England state each Wednesday. Next up: Connecticut. And Anjuli–join the crowd–all reading travelers feel that way.
Alexandra: Somehow I knew you would say that. It’s okay to be loyal to your part of the world, but relish the variety that is within a day or two drive from home.

By: Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences

Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:00:44 +0000

This is a part of the world I have not been to, so I am taking copious notes. Thanks for the write-up, it’s quite interesting/useful.
.-= Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences hopes you will read blog ..Travel Where You Want =-.

By: anjuli

anjuli — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:53:54 +0000

I’ve always wanted to go to Massachusetts- and now I want to read this book AND go visit. oh my- if I keep reading more on this site my list of books to read and places to go is going to be endless

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:02:24 +0000

I have been to Cape Ann, so can second your recommendation .... although Cape Cod, and specifically Wellfleet, on the Outer Cape, is more beautiful. .-= Alexandrahopes you will read blog ..Deadline for Dune Shack Lottery Draws Near =-.

By: Melanie Haiken

Melanie Haiken — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:09:11 +0000

I hadn’t heard of this book but am intrigued. And thanks for the music suggestion; I love this type of music and enjoy finding local folk music when I travel. In Nova Scotia I was quite enchanted by the local ceilidhs, pronounced kay-ley, which are gatherings of anyone and everyone who wants to play and sing.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:54:03 +0000

Aw,Mark, as someone who writes about Travel Wonders every day, I wouldn’t think you would avoid ghost towns. The boulders around Dogtown? The inspirational inscriptions? The deep, dark woods–oh, sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.

By: Mark H

Mark H — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:58:59 +0000

I used to travel regulsrly to Boston with work but have never heard of Dogtown. Mind you, I’m not sure I’d be driving eagerly towards a ghost town anyway…
.-= Mark Hhopes you will read blog ..Photo of the Week – Incan 12 Sided Stone (Cusco, Peru) =-.

By: Laura B

Laura B — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:13:29 +0000

I had never heard of it until now, but it sounds fascinating. I love ghost towns (recent or not).

By: jessiev

jessiev — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:31:22 +0000

interesting, vera! i'll have to check it out. .-= jessievhopes you will read blog ..Photo of the Week February 1, 2010 =-.