Timeline: Cape Ann Screening — The Flying Santa Friday, December 19 | 3:00–4:00 PM Community Room | Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave., Gloucester
The Sawyer Free Library is delighted to welcome Kory Curcuru of1623 Studios for a special screening of Timeline: Cape Ann — The Flying Santa.
More than 90 years ago, a Maine pilot began a heartfelt tradition: air-dropping Christmas packages to lighthouse keepers and their families who guided him to safety. Over time, the route expanded to Cape Ann and eventually reached Coast Guard stations and lighthouses across the country. Remarkably, the Flying Santa tradition continues to this day.
This captivating film tells the story of one man’s generosity and the enduring spirit of community that helped shape Gloucester’s identity. A Q&A with Kory Curcuru will follow the screening.
This free public event is open to all. Registration is requested at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Ever wonder how Gloucester’s public library came to be? The Sawyer Free Library invites the community to a special evening celebrating nearly two centuries of local history, innovation, and civic spirit. On Thursday, November 20 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, the Library will present a film screening and panel discussion of Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library in its Community Room.
Produced by Kory Curcuru of1623 Studios, Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library traces the remarkable story of Gloucester’s public library—from its 19th-century beginnings in the Gloucester Lyceum to its role today as a vibrant civic and cultural hub. The short documentary explores how a small-town vision grew into a cornerstone of learning, access, and community connection.
The film situates the Sawyer Free Library within the broader story of American public libraries—beginning with Benjamin Franklin’s 1731 subscription library, which sparked a movement for shared knowledge and free access to books. By the early 1800s, the “Lyceum movement” swept New England, bringing citizens together for lectures, debate, and education. Gloucester quickly joined in. In 1830, residents established the Gloucester Lyceum, which merged Franklin’s ideals with this new spirit of civic learning.
The Library’s evolution accelerated under the leadership and generosity of Samuel Elwell Sawyer, a Gloucester native and philanthropist who made access to books free for all. His lasting legacy includes the donation of the Saunders House, which remains part of the Library campus today, and the 1872 incorporation of the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, with a charter promising it would remain free forever.
Timeline Cape Ann also highlights the Library’s continued resilience and innovation—surviving fires, embracing technology, and expanding services through the 20th and 21st centuries. From WPA murals and children’s programs to its newly completed, state-of-the-art renovation and expansion, the Sawyer Free Library remains a living institution shaped by generations of readers, learners, and citizens.
Following the screening, Curcuru will be joined by Sawyer Free Library Local History Librarian Julie Travers and local historian and author Wayne Soini for a panel discussion and audience Q&A exploring the Library’s enduring role in Gloucester’s civic life.
This free public event offers a fascinating look at how one man’s generosity and a community’s shared commitment helped shape the heart of Gloucester.
Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Thursday, November 20, 2025 5:00–6:30 PM Sawyer Free Library, Community Room (Ground Floor), 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA
Celebrate Women’s History Month with activists marching through Cambridge for women’s rights in the award-winning documentary LEFT ON PEARL! Join the Sawyer Free Library for a virtual documentary screening followed by a filmmakers’ panel on Saturday, March 20 from 2-4pm.
Register here for the link to the film and presentation. The film will be made available to registrants a few days before the presentation if you’d like to watch it in advance.
Also be sure to check out the What She’s Reading at SawyerFreeLibrary.org this month. The Library asked several of Gloucester’s cultural, civic, and community women leaders to share books that they love or have inspired them, written by fellow women. The results are a mix of close to 100 titles, including classics, new discoveries, and more. The complete list is on the website, with recommended books available at Sawyer Free Library or easily ordered from libraries in their consortium.
Race Amity: advancing the discourse on race through friendship.
On Thursday, February 25 from 7:00-8:30pm, the Sawyer Free Library will be hosting a Zoom presentation of WGBH’s powerful documentary series “American Stories: Race Amity and The Other Tradition.” This presentation will include a brief introduction to the film by Dr. William H. Smith (creator, executive producer, and writer of the series), a reading from the book “Race Amity: A Primer on America’s Other Tradition,” a viewing of the film “Race Amity: America’s Other Tradition,” a commentary by Dr. Smith, and a Q&A Session. Register here!
By sharing healing, inspirational stories of the power of race amity, the documentary explores the moral counterweights to the tradition of racism in America and how we can move together towards unity and love. Created by WHS Media Productions LLC, the film discusses the “better in us” perspective needed in the current climate of disunity across racial, religious, and political lines.
“This grand Race Amity Project is a timely work that speaks to our hearts and souls! I am blessed to fully support it.” – Rev. Dr. Cornel West, Professor Harvard Divinity School, Social Commentator
This virtual event is FREE and open to the public. Advanced registration is required to access the Zoom link. Please register on the Library Calendar at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Dr. William H. Smith is the founding executive director of the National Center for Race Amity. He is the creator, executive producer, and writer of the series, “American Stories: Race Amity and The Other Tradition” and the producer and co-writer of the award winning Invisible Soldiers: Unheard Voices.
Cape Ann Community 