History of Teen Life in Gloucester

By Lilly Whaley, Teen Intern, Sawyer Free Library

Teenagers and tweens are individuals between the ages of 11 and 19, comprising a small, intriguing segment of the population. Teens and tweens tend to have a unique lifestyle that is difficult to understand even for former teens and tweens.

Wright, John Hardy. 2000. *Gloucester and Rockport.* Arcadia.

Throughout Cape Ann’s history, teens have played a crucial part in the community and contributed in many ways. Whether it was helping their parents’ businesses, helping in the fishing industry, or in simply living their lives, teens have always had a lasting impact in this community.

Teen life in Gloucester has undergone many changes, and has really reflected gender differences. Most boys held jobs while attending school and some just worked full-time as fishermen or in other trades. By the 1950s, most girls attended school up to their early teen years, and then sometimes left due to family responsibilities. College attendance was not the norm, and most teenagers here were expected to stay in Gloucester. Gloucester historically is a town of family-owned businesses, so most of the teenagers were expected to inherit them.

Teen Centers of Cape Ann

Teen centers and community centers were very popular in the 20th century. Different areas of Cape Ann had teen centers, most notably Rockport, Lanesville, and West Gloucester. They served the communities as sanctuaries for people to meet new friends.

Rockport’s teen center was the most notable of the few. Built for teens by teens with the help of the YMCA, teenagers drafted their own membership rules, furnished their own space, and helped start and run a youth group for Rockport.

In the late 1960s, Rockport’s teen center was facing closure because the city wanted to re-purpose the building. The news of the closure of the teen center was shared in the summer of 1969, shocking the community. The president of the teen center spent many months trying to convince people to help him keep it open, but eventually “quit in a huff due to the lack of support for the youth.” (Gloucester Daily Times)

“Teen Center, trade school, top topics for selectmen,” *Gloucester Daily Times*, December 30, 1969.

When the teen center was nearing the end of its time, Dr. Phillip Cutter of Rockport took the initiative to try and save the center himself. Cutter wrote to a selectman, writing that the teen center “has served an extremely important role of the teen for the teenagers of Rockport” urging him to convince the other representatives of Cape Ann to keep the center open. He collected quotes and statements from teens around Rockport and eventually was able to convince the town to keep the teen center open for another six months. In those six months, they were able to convince the town to keep it open for longer, before its closure a few decades later. The teen center was eventually resurrected in 2007 through the YMCA. Since then, it has thrived as a center for teens to hang out, meet each other, and serve as a safe place for everyone who walks in the doors.

Olson, Peter, “Teen Center wins 6 months more,” *Gloucester Daily Times*, December 31, 1969.

Past Times and Everyday Affairs

Teens hung out mostly on the beaches, near the wharves, or around the local green spaces. Like today, they also hung out in each other’s houses and on Main Street. Since technology wasn’t as influential, most teens spent time socializing with friends from school, or working at their jobs. In addition to those things, a large number of teens spent time playing sports and participating in the arts. Students also enjoyed spending time attending school events such as dances or football games.

Wright, John Hardy. 2000. Gloucester and Rockport. Arcadia.

Some teens participated in the media and publication clubs at school. Most notably, the BEACON, which was a magazine that was student-led and published. This magazine consisted of student writing, art, and poetry. This club still exists today, under a different name, The Elicitor.

In a broader context, teens’ lives were focused on a future that was rooted in Gloucester. The teens’ futures looked a lot like their parents’ pasts. Family and staying loyal to the community were valued qualities above most things. In Gloucester, due to its history of fishing and the tight-knit community, teenagers were treated more as adults, and responsible lifestyles were expected at a young age.