Nestled halfway down a quiet lane leading to the Atlantic Ocean in Rockport, MA is a small cottage that belongs to the Cape Ann Chapter of the DAR. Located a short walk from the beach and the quaint downtown shopping area of Rockport known as Bearskin Neck, the cottage boasts beautiful ocean views from almost every room. The main floor has a screened-in sun porch, kitchen, dining area and living room. Upstairs is a master bedroom, a smaller bedroom and a full bath, all with ocean views. The finished basement has a half bath and a meeting room, which opens out to a small back yard with a garden and picnic table. The cottage also has a one car garage and two parking places.
Click the thumbnail images below for larger photos of various parts of the cottage and grounds.
The cottage was bequeathed to the Chapter by one of its members, Shirley Klein, when she died in 1983. For many years, it was occupied by a year-round caretaker, and the Chapter used the meeting space several times a year.
Rockport is located 40 miles north of Boston at the end of Route 128, and has direct daily train service to and from Boston. The town is part of Cape Ann, which also includes Gloucester, Manchester and Essex. For more information on the Cape Ann area, please visit the website of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at www.capeannvacations.com or www.rockportusa.com.
Shirley Klein grew up in Blue Island, IL, the daughter of a printer. After finding a reference to Cape Ann in her family Bible, she decided to do some research on her ancestors. In her search, she discovered that she was a descendant of Peter Lurvey, who settled in Ipswich, MA in 1675. She also found out that Lurvey's great-grandson, Moses Lurvey, fought in the American Revolutionary War, making her eligible for DAR membership.
In 1961, Mrs. Klein moved to Rockport, MA and bought a small two-story cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. She joined the William French Chapter of the NSDAR in Bellows Falls, VT in 1962, and transferred to the Cape Ann Chapter in 1968.
When she died on December 6, 1983, she left her cottage to the Cape Ann Chapter. Some of Mrs. Klein's furnishings, books and other memorabilia have been kept there, and an oil painting of her graces the Chapter's meeting room.