On a stormy St. Patrick's Eve, March 16, 1956, the Italian freighter ETRUSCO was blown aground at Cedar Point next to the Scituate Light during a freak spring N'oreaster storm.

 

The community of Scituate rallied to the crews' aid. An Italian-speaking interpreter was found to communicate with the badly frightened crewmen. Many Scituate townspeople turned out to feed, clothe, and make these men comfortable.

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Working hand in hand with the Coast Guard, the crew was rescued and sheltered. When the ship was refloated and repaired, following eight months of hard labor, she was re-christened S.S. SCITUATE in honor of the town that saved her.

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The Scituate Etrusco Associates marked the 2nd anniversary of the freighter's grounding by becoming a philanthropic group, supplying medical equipment to those in need. Starting as a loan closet from a garage of the Associates' own treasurer, our operation has grown to serve the residents of 14 towns on the South Shore of Massachusetts.