Honey, often called “the nectar of the gods,” is as old as written history. The earliest record of keeping bees in hives was found in the sun temple erected in 2400 B.C. Egypt near Cairo. However, fossils of honeybees date back about 150 million years. Its “magical” properties and versatility have given honey a significant part in history.

Gary Williams is carrying on the ancient tradition of beekeeping at his 32-acre home on Salem Church Road in Gloucester where he has 12 established hives and six on the way.

A New Jersey man and father of seven children, Gary moved to Gloucester in 1995. “My sister lives in Williamsburg and we found we liked this area. I first built a log cabin but when this property came up I bought it. We built here and call it Beulah Acres.”

Gary, a Gloucester Post Office employee, said his beekeeping started when Alexis Skinner showed him the hives he had at the time. “That’s what made me interested so in 2003 I ...