Historic Plaque Honors Cultural Center's Roots as Giles Chapel

Elizabeth Carey, RNAC CEO, accepts the Giles Chapel plaque from Susan Morreale, Chair of the Gloucester Historical Commission on March 4th.

Rocky Neck Art Colony recently joined 60 others throughout Gloucester by proudly showing its building’s roots with a historic plaque.

The Gloucester Historical Commission deemed 6 Wonson Street “historically significant” through their plaque application process, which requires in-depth historic research to ensure the plaque's accuracy. Hand-painted plaques, created by a local crafts person, are made with materials and paints to withstand many years of New England weather. Each plaque includes the year of build, first occupants or building uses, and the state vessel, Ernestina-Morrisey, the only surviving 19th-century Gloucester-built fishing schooner. 

Augustus Wonson, a founder of Tarr & Wonson Paint Manufactory, had the building known as Giles Chapel constructed in 1877 for the Baptist Church and Sabbath School at Rocky Neck. He named it in honor of his sister, Lydia, and her husband, Samuel Giles, a wealthy shipmaster and prominent member of the Baptist Church in Gloucester. Built in the year Lydia died, 6 Wonson Street is a striking, rare, and pure example of Gothic Revival style. Since 2013, RNAC has converted it into an innovative, art and cultural community center, while expertly upgrading the nearly 150-year-old structure.  Augustus would be pleased!