Magnolia is a small village in Gloucester, located in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Manchester-by-the-Sea town line in the southwestern part of the city.

Straddling the town line between the two communities is Surf Park,[1] a two-acre swath of land that has scenic views of Kettle Cove.

James Freeman Clarke, well-known Unitarian minister, author, and social reformer of Boston's Church of the Disciples, after searching the North Shore for the best possible summer resort, purchased land in Magnolia in 1879 and built a house he called "Septingle" because it had seven open fireplaces.

During the Victorian era, many wealthy businessmen and their families built large mansions along Shore Road, which were staffed by newly arrived immigrants to Massachusetts.

They served the transient summer residents and visitors as servants, cooks, housekeepers, gardeners and clerks in the posh branch stores of firms from New York City, London, Paris, and Palm Beach that lined both sides of Lexington Avenue.