09/25/2026
STORMY SEPTEMBER
As we prepare for the nor’easter, we thought it would be interesting to look back at some of the major late-summer and September storms that have affected Cape Ann.
September 23, 1815 – The Great September Gale was one of the earliest major hurricanes recorded to strike New England and caused significant damage along the Massachusetts coast.
On Cape Ann, several vessels were driven ashore and bilged, including U.S. Gunboat No. 77, the schooner New Packet, the schooner Washington, and a sloop commanded by Captain Blasdell, believed to have been Portsmouth mariner Captain Ephraim Blasdell. His sloop was carrying bread for the Navy Department at Portsmouth when the storm struck.
The gale also caused property damage in Gloucester. A block of unfinished buildings and several stores were blown down, with other structures damaged as well.
September 21, 1938 – The Great New England Hurricane, although the storm did not make landfall at Rockport, its powerful winds and seas reached Cape Ann. Across southern New England, more than 2,600 boats were destroyed and more than 3,300 damaged, while thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged and widespread power outages followed.
Here in Pigeon Cove, Fred Peterson later recalled a large tree being uprooted at the intersection of Curtis and Granite Streets. Looking at it after the storm from his father’s Pontiac, he remembered being “awed by the height of the roots.” It became one of his earliest childhood memories.
September 14–15, 1944 – The Great Atlantic Hurricane was another powerful hurricane that brought strong winds, heavy seas, fallen trees and utility damage to coastal Massachusetts. Cape Ann was exposed to the storm’s wind and marine conditions.
August 31, 1954 – Hurricane Carol struck on the final day of August. Much of eastern Massachusetts experienced extremely strong winds, bringing down trees and power lines and causing widespread telephone and electrical outages. Thousands of homes, automobiles and boats were destroyed across New England.
Rockport and Cape Ann were within the eastern Massachusetts area affected by Carol’s wind and coastal conditions.
And the region barely had time to recover.
September 11, 1954 – Hurricane Edna hit just 11 days after Carol. Edna brought another round of strong winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding to Massachusetts. Northeastern Massachusetts received particularly heavy rainfall, while trees and utility systems already stressed by Carol faced yet another storm.
September 12, 1960 – Hurricane Donna
Donna traveled up the East Coast before reaching New England, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and rough coastal waters. Massachusetts experienced wind and marine damage, while Rockport’s exposed shoreline and fishing harbors faced the storm’s coastal conditions.
September 26, 1961 – Hurricane Esther followed an unusual looping course offshore before returning toward New England as a weaker storm. Heavy rain fell across coastal Massachusetts, and saturated ground contributed to flooded cellars, low roads and underpasses in parts of the region.
September 27, 1985 – Hurricane Gloria brought strong winds and widespread damage to New England. Across eastern Massachusetts, trees were brought down, hundreds of homes were damaged and roughly 500,000 people lost power. Rockport was specifically included among Massachusetts communities documented as having suffered storm losses.
Now we would really like to hear from you. What photos, memories or stories can you share?
