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Kirsti Out Wandering

Man At The Wheel

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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Man At The Wheel

This iconic statue is named the Gloucester Fishermen’s Memorial. It rests on a five-foot granite platform located on the south side of Stacy Boulevard, at the edge of Gloucester Harbor. 

Created by artist Leonard Craske and modeled after a local fisher. The monument was completed in 1925 to honor Gloucester’s 300th anniversary. It recognizes the 10,000 known Gloucester fishers who have succumbed to the sea over the decades while performing our country’s most dangerous occupation. 

Impending Danger

“They That Go Down to The Sea in Ships, 1623-1923” is the stirring caption for the statue. And, a time capsule containing 47 items inside the foundation representing Gloucester’s history and culture in 1923 is hidden in its base like a treasure chest buried with a ship at the bottom of the sea.

Rough and rugged, the eight-foot-tall figure displays a fisherman dressed in oilskins standing gripped, at the wheel of his ship’s deck. A sense of the always present impending danger at sea is poised, gazing with great seriousness beyond Gloucester Harbor.

Symbolizing his ship’s bow, a semi-circle of plaques mounted on stone are the names of those lost at sea from 1716–2001. Visitors are encouraged to pause to remember and consider the fishermen, their wives and their families. During 1879 alone, 29 vessels with a total of 249 fishermen were lost during a terrible storm. These men are legend, and whose difficulty and sacrifice are elements of the fishing industry’s severe human toll.

Six of perhaps the best-known names on the plaques belong to the captain and crew of the “Andrea Gail.” Immortalized in Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm (New York: Harper 1998), Junger describes this boat’s last voyage and tells about the fishing industry’s history and development Gloucester. The book’s feature film version vividly depicts the crew’s determination and courage showing the dangers of deepsea fishing.

Awaiting Their Return

Hope and despair are felt further south on Stacy Boulevard at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial. Surrounded by beautifully terraced gardens, a woman and child anxiously look out to sea. This statue honors the steadiness and strength of families who, even today, await their loved ones’ safe return. 

Following the writing around the base of the sculpture it reads: “The wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of Gloucester fishermen honor the wives and families of fishermen and mariners everywhere for their faith, diligence, and fortitude.”

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I am an influencer of optimism, positivity & love. My mantra is, “Be where my feet are,” nothing more, nothing less. It means living in the moment with curiosity, creativity, courage & compassion. 

You’ll find resources and stories primarily about subjects like travel, van living, exploring, yoga, and photography on these pages. By acting on my dreams and sharing my experiences, I hope you’ll be inspired to say YES, and live your happiest, best life.

Follow along! Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van. 

She offers weekly inspiration and a monthly roundup filled with stories and tips on travel, exploring, van living, self-care, photography and being human.

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