Marblehead

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and picturesque

harbors both large and small, Marblehead has relied

on the changing tides for its livelihood since the town’s

founding in 1629. It served first as the departure point for

schooners that sailed on local and far-flung fishing voyages,

then as a flourishing seaport in the 18th century. Since the

Civil War it has been a safe haven for yachting enthusiasts

and tourists who are lured by its many charms.

The harbor had been a working port for over two

centuries when a sudden storm off Newfoundland’s Grand

Banks in 1846 destroyed half of the town’s fishing fleet.

Many of Marblehead’s inhabitants became involved in

the burgeoning shoe industry to carry them over while the

fisheries struggled to recover, but never did. By the turn

of the 20th century, the town had become an important

yachting center. In this much anticipated sequel, these and

other waterfront-related aspects of Marblehead’s history

are chronicled in six intriguing chapters with over 200

photographs and postcards.