Ribbon Cutting

After four years of renovation to the Visitors Center and landscape of Halibut Point State Park by the Department of Recreation and Conservation (DCR), tranquility has returned to our local sanctuary. The Park staff is particularly relieved to be quietly back at the helm of the impressively rehabilitated facilities and new exhibits.

DCR engaged top-notch contractors to carry out repairs to the old coastal watch tower battered by shoreline elements and decades of less than perfect attention.

The landscape, roadways and parking lot received a massive overhaul. The State devoted $4.6 million to the project.

State Senator Bruce Tarr at the podium,
Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante to his left

On the beautiful crisp last day of November dignitaries and the project team celebrated the completion of the work.

Gail Halloran cutting the ribbon, surrounded  (L to R) by
Rockport Selectman Paul Murphy, Kathleen Theoharides, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Senator Tarr, and Stephanie Cooper, Acting Commissioner of the DCR

Governor Ed King and State Rep. Ted Tarr
at the Park dedication November 1981
Photo from Park archives

Gail Halloran, the first Park Supervisor and currently President of the Friends of Halibut Point State Park, reminded the gathering of the blustery day forty years ago when Governor Ed King flew in by helicopter for the Park dedication.

Tour guide training session, May 1987
Walter Johnson, center, and Gail Halloran, right
Gail Halloran photo

Gail paid tribute to Rockport resident Walter Johnson, once a tool boy at the quarry, for his generosity to Park programs and for teaching her how to split granite.

Gail with kindergarten apprentice c. 2000
Gail Halloran photo

Over the years she had a chance to share this knowledge with visitors of all ages. Friends of Halibut Point hoped it would develop into a Granite Museum.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Granite Museum, October 2000
Ted Tarr (l), Sen. Bruce Tarr (c), Gail Halloran (r)
Gail Halloran photo

That aspiration never quite came to fruition. However the newly renovated Visitors Center presents many educational displays. 

The Babson Farm Quarry in operation, 1913
Painting by Leon Kroll

Among the most interesting items in the new exhibits are facsimiles of Halibut Point quarrying operations in the painting by Leon Kroll and a large scale model of the quarry commissioned from craftsman Dominick Ciati.

 The Visitors Center will be open throughout the winter.