Gloucester Men Memorial

«They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters»
Psalm 107:23
What’s the most dangerous occupation in America, with a fatality rate of 127 per 100,000? The answer is commercial fisherman, and it’s been that way for a long time.
This iconic memorial remembers the over 5,300 Glostermen lost at sea between 1711 and 2011. The year 1879 was particularly deadly, as 249 fishermen and 29 ships were lost. .
The bronze statue of a fisherman struggling at the wheel of his ship is an impressive 8 feet tall and rests on a green granite base. Surrounding the statue are many engraved panels listing the years and number of men lost going back to 1711. Of particular interest is the 1991 entry listing the names of those lost on the ship Andrea Gail. Their story was chronicled in «The Perfect Storm» book (1997) and movie (2000).
To the far left of the chronological plaques is one giving background on the history of Gloucester and its deep ties to centuries of fishing.
The full inscription on the plaque reads:
Gloucester Fishermen’s Memorial
For nearly four centuries the history of Gloucester has been the story of America’s greatest fishing port. With this memorial we commemorate the lives and the legacy of those who died at sea while fishing.
The first settlers came from England in 1623 to harvest the ocean’s bounty. They concentrated on the rich fishing banks between Gloucester and Newfoundland, and later ventured throughout the Atlantic. During the 1800s, immigrants from many lands joined in the perilous work. Sustained by the hope of prosperity, they came from the Canadian Maritimes, Scandinavia and Ireland. Later, they came from Italy and Portugal. These Intrepid men established an industry that has yielded countless millions of pounds of fish.
Their legacy came at a tremendous cost: the loss of over 5300 men. Some were overtaken by the howling winds and mountainous seas of a catastrophic northeaster. Some met their fate in the solitude of a small dory gone astray from the schooner that brought them to the banks. Some ships collided in storms and tragically sank. Others were run down by steamers in the shipping lanes.
These courageous men have been known by names other than fishermen. They were father, husband, brother, son. They were known as the finest kind. Their lives and their loss have touched our community in profound ways. We remain strengthened by their character, inspired by their courage and proud to call them Gloucestermen.
Numbers alone can never chronicle the loss of human life, yet the statistics reflect the magnitude of Gloucester’s sacrifice. On these plaques are the names of men known to have been lost. This memorial also stands to honor those men and ships lost without record.
Men known to be lost at sea and honored here: 5368
Of the nearly 1,000 ships lost, those lost with all hands: 265
Thousands of widows struggled to survive and raise their children and many of those fatherless children entered the trade of their lost fathers.
Between 1860 — 1906, a staggering 660 ships sank. While many of the fishermen were saved, 3880 men were lost.
A single storm in 1862 claimed 15 schooners and 120 men, while another devastating storm in 1879 took the lives of 159 men.
Let us remember, honor and celebrate these fishermen who made their final voyage from this great port.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Psalm 107, 23 – 24

Dedicated on September 3^rd 2000.
This memorial is on the shores of Gloucester facing 10 Pound Island in Western Harbor. It memorializes the souls of over 5,300 men Gloucester’s own who were lost at sea from 1711 to 2011.
In this sleepy little fishing town in Massachusetts it is a must see if you are in the area. Pull over take a look at the 6 plaques and appreciate what it stands for, all the men that sacrificed their lives to provide for their families over the years.
Some of these men were away from their families for months at a time facing treacherous seas. Yes it is famous because of the movie The Perfect Storm, but that is only a very small percentage of the men. It was mentioned to me and not noted on the plaque that 2 other ships went down that day trying to rescue the crew of the Andrea Gayle.

Welcome to THE PREFECT STORM!
Did the drive to Gloucester, MA to check it out. Nice area for a tourist but not much happening. So that WICKED TUNA you were looking for is probably not gonna get hooked up.
The memorial statue is along the water way so stop and check it out.

The Gloucester Fishermen Memorial is a very special and solemn place.
When you are driving up this way, you may not be thinking of the history that surrounds this seaport village. As you might vaguely remember from that George Clooney movie The Perfect Storm, being a Gloucester fisherman has it’s risks. Over the years, the fisherman have increased their area of fishing, going further and further into the north Atlantic.
The statue itself was made by the English sculptor Leonard Craske in 1925. Along the perimeter of the statue, they have engraved the list of Gloucester fishermen who have lost their lives since the seaport’s founding in 1623, near Cape Ann and Stage Fort Park.
«They that go down to the sea in ships» is taken from Psalm 107:23−32