Gloucester Alumni

By Julio Chuy
Staff writer
Gloucester Daily Times

Local author Joseph Garland stood before nearly 100 students last Thursday morning to talk about his book "Lone Voyager," which was chosen to promote literacy among all Gloucester residents, young and old, in the Gloucester Reads program.
After speaking to students, he said that while flattered that his work was being read, he was most satisfied that students were making a connection to Gloucester's rich history.
"We have never been in more need to remember our past than now," he said.
Before the kick off at Sawyer Free Library on Thursday night, eighth-graders at O'Maley Middle School got the opportunity to sink their teeth into "Lone Voyager."
The book details the complex life of fisherman Howard Blackburn, who lost all his fingers after his dory was separated from its mother vessel in the North Atlantic during a blizzard in the winter of 1883. After five days of rowing with no food or water and with his dory mate dead, Blackburn eventually found his way to shore.
Thursday morning, about 300 eighth-graders got a head start on the book - not only by hearing local community leaders read from the "Lone Voyager" - but also by experiencing what it was like to be a fisherman in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
During the event, which lasted most of the morning, students rotated among three display stations where they got to experience and understand the book.
The first venue was at the auditorium where a life-size dory was available for viewing. Students also saw a film recounting tales of fishermen and the history of the industry in Gloucester.
At the school's library, community leaders read from the first chapter of Garland's book.
Finally, at the cafeteria, students expressed with art what they had learned from the first chapter of the book.
Many made paintings and drawings, while others got busy at a station where they learned to tie fishing knots.
"The event was just phenomenal," said Ann Ziergiebel, an O'Maley history teacher. "The event captures the whole spirit of the story and celebrates the author's language. But most importantly, it connects students with the book."
Several students, including eighth-grader Alea Capello, 13, said they were looking forward to reading the rest of the book and learning a little more about Gloucester's rich fishing history.
"It just tells you things you never knew before," she said.