Tuck Inn's Mentors

As Liz and I very happily discovered, after purchasing The Tuck Inn, innkeepers in Rockport are highly supportive of one another and it is quite rare to have one inn bad-mouth or undermine another inn.

When we began our new careers operating the inn, we were complete "babes-in-the-woods" with no inn-keeping experience or hospitality background for us or within either of our families, so we had no one to turn to for help. But fortunately, there was a wealth of help within town. There were 3 key people who helped us tremendously on our way.

First and foremost was the indomitable director of the local Chamber of Commerce, our friend and ongoing supporter, Janice Ramsden. I think Janice really took pity on Liz and I at our first meeting when she realized how unprepared we were to take on the massive renovations of the derelict inn. Knowing it's recently poor reputation and the uphill battle ahead of us to re-establish it's name and business along with all the local town quirks (and some quacks) to work around. Her help and ongoing friendship has proved invaluable to us. To help us with the "nuts and bolts" of inn-keeping, she introduced us to the "Mother Hen of Inn-keeping ", Penny Olson and the affable yet formidable, Leighton Saville.

Penny and husband, Larry Olson ran the Linden Tree Inn in town and had developed a wonderful reputation throughout the area. Following Janice's introduction, posthaste, Penny invited us over for our first class of "inn-keeping 101", where she generously proceeded to offer us advice on housekeeping and laundry, advertising and marketing, reservations and general paperwork, who to know or avoid, and damage control! More importantly though, she shared her exuberance with the business and stressed how important it was to keep everything light and laughable.

Leighton, along with his partner, Dwight who ran the Seacrest Manor, also took us under their wings offering us similar advice and help. Leighton made sure we advertised in the appropriate books, magazines, brochures, etc. He even called editors and writers on our behalf to get some free publicity. He made it a point to introduce us to other individuals or organizations throughout town as well. When our renovations were nearing completion, he called us up one day to come get 4 rooms of furniture for the taking to outfit our rooms. Then, lastly, he and Dwight went out of their way to send us any number of guests to help fill our rooms and add something to our coffers.

We are indebted to these individuals who helped us find our way towards successful inn-keeping. To express our thanks to them, we've always tried to treat any incoming innkeepers with our help "in-kind" and hope others will be as helpful to our eventual replacements as well. (Not to worry though...as we're shooting for a 30 year stint!!)

To Janice, Penny, Leighton and Dwight...thank you for everything!!

Lighthouses on Cape Ann

Lighthouses are a very unique attraction along the coastlines. They are sought out by photographers and painters for their artistic value, and their curiosity factor to many mid-land dwellers who've not had any access to a lighthouse before. They are found in abundance on Cape Ann and can be viewed as follows:

In Rockport:
On Straitsmouth Island - most visible from the tip of Bearskin Neck.
Dual lights on Thacher Island - visible along Eden Road and Good Harbor Beach.

In Gloucester:
Annisquam Light - can be accessed by foot off Leonard Street to Norwood Heights.
Eastern Point - can be accessed by foot off Eastern Point Boulevard West.
Ten Pound Island (Winslow Homer's home for a year) in Gloucester Harbor.

If you'd like more information about them please consider the following:
For interested guests, there is also a 2 1/2 hour boat tour of the lighthouses from Gloucester, or pick up a brochure on lighthouses at The Chamber of Commerce. Then also, one of the previous Thacher Island Lighthouse keepers lives a few doors up the street from the Inn, and they'd welcome your visit. If you would like to lend your support to help maintain and renovate our own Thacher Island, the Thacher Island Association encourages all interested parties to become a member of the association at www.thacherisland.org.