The Portland daily press., 1889-10-15
BACK INTO THE MISTY PAST.
A Leaf from PortIand's Early
History.
When Portland Pier Was Built and
How II Was Named.
All About the Site of the New
Ferry Landing.
Hon. William Gould.l

1888, it was found that the old short wharves
and breastworks of timber cobwork, were
not sufficient for the growing business Of the
town. Mechanics whose trades were de-
pendent on commerce, occupied large part
of the wharves of the shore front Of the
Neck. Union wharf was built in 1898. Long
wharf was extended 400 feet from Deerlng's
breastwork in 1894 Joseph il. Ingraham
built the first Of Ingraham's wharf, now
Commercial wharf. soon after. Josiah Cox,
grandson of Samuel Proctor, who came here
from Lynn in 1921, and had a town grant Of
land where Silver street now is, had short
wharf about where the passageway to Port
land Pier now is, with a warehouse on 1t.
This was burnt in the bombardment OF Oc-
tober, 1775. Captain Jonathan Paine who
came from the old colony married Dorcas, a
sister of Josiah Cox. Captain Peter War
rem of Bagaduce fame, married grand
daughter. These descendants of Samuel
Proctor retained portion Of their 2atrimo-
ny, and were the principal proprietors of
Portland Pier.
Their first meeting was held at the house
of Captain Warren on the west corner Of
Fore and Silver streets, February 25, 1906,
by the authority Of warrant issued by
George Bradbury, justice of the peace for
Cumberland county. The petition for this
warrant was signed by Josiah Cox. Jr., JON
athan Paine. Peter Warren, Enoch Preble.
Thomas Merrill Jacob Noyes, Benjamin
Knight and William Lowell, Every one Of
these have descendants now living in the
city. These petitioners said they were
major part of the proprietors Of certain
parcel Of flats, land and wharf, bounded as
follows, viz: "NoTtheasterly on the flats of
Henry Titcomb, (now Custom House wharf I;
southwesterly on the fats of Joseph Ii. Iu-
graham; (now Commercial wharf; south
easterly by the channel of Fore River; and
northwesterly, and extending about 10 feet
by Wharf street so called" This is an old
narrow street running in the rear of the old
buildings fronting on Fore street on the
southwest side. Formerly there was wide
arch in the brick walls Of the building on
the former passageway from Fore street to
Ingraham's wharf. This arch is now bricked
up, but the turn Is yet to be seen in the rear
wall-of course this is now the south ter
minus of old Wharf street. The old Marri-
ners' church building occupies part of this
between Long and Union wharves.
At the prOpriet0rs meeting it was thought
necessary to extend their entrance from
Wharf street to Fore street, as it was direct
ly opposite the south end of Silver street. To
do this lot % feet wide, on which stood
blacksmith shop, was bought of Peter War
rem, who lived opposite. In the vote to pur-
chase this lot for passage, Fore street Is
called Water street." Some sections OF
Fore street had become unsavory. Many
families of responsibility then had resi-
dences on this street, and a spasmodic effort
was made Informally to change IT'S name to
Water street. but it did not obtain
prominence. Describing this passage
reminds me Of a horrid spectacle which L
saw here in March, | think, 1917. A fire
took in a two story wooden building on Fore
street adjoining this passage way on the
cupied the corner for bakery, and Bailey, a
barber, had a shop in the other end, and oc-
cupled all of the second story for dwelling.
The fire took in the bakery in the night.
Bailey was stupifed and failed to get his
three youngest children out and they were
remains were permitted to lie exposed on
the snow in this passageway until nearly
noon the next day-a horrible sight which
made deep impression on me, country
boy, who had ridden to town with my father.
At the second meeting of the propriet0rs
it was voted to raise $1,000 to complete
building, which was authorized at the first
meeting, and to extend the wharf. This
building was of three stories and contained
five stores. 1t stood in line with tine pres
ent old block on the east of the passage be-
low Commercial street, with space of fifty
feet between them. When Commercial
street was opened, 1t swept away this first
block, which was cut in two and One-half
was moved to the south side of the Pier, and
is now the brown wooden block next below
Commercial street. Ii any one has an in
terest to know what fashioned counting
rooms and warehouses those old Portland
shipping merchants of sacred remembrance,
occupied during the prosperous years before
the embargo, they can see some of them
with the same furniture, in the block un-
painted. on its original site. The beams of
these two first buildings are af pine, eleven
by fourteen inches square. AT the time Of
the filling in of Commercial street, the city
paid the Pier corporation 500 damages for
lowed them to take up the timber
of which the wharf was built in 1906. These
logs were used in the construction of an ex-
tension of the pier at the end. They were
sound and are good for another century.
After the organization the proprietors be-
gan to cast about for name for their wharf.
About all of the seaports of New England
hadT'piers" named for the towl. Shaw says
that Long wharf was first called Portland
Pier. Portsmouth yet has her pier bearing
west side of Narragansett Bay had its Mar
ragansett Pier, and Piermont, on the Hud-
son, was beautiful town; so Portland
PIER was decided upon, and its owners
sneered at the old fOgy name of wharf"
In 1909 the names of William Widgery,
John Wocdman and Archelaus Lewis ap-
pear as proprietors. Abraham Beeman, who
kept an inn on Fore street, near Long wharf,
was the first wharhnger, and at his tavern
the meetings were held. In 1911 the wharf
axfn Aad nsna htrn Arad fanf Vnh 10
bart. Enoch Ilsley. John Alden, John Wild
rage, Parker Ilsley, Jr., Jacob Knight. VIM.
Woodbury., Asa Clapp and Samuel Trask,
all prominent business men OF the town. and
Ebenezer Libby, of Scarborough, appear as
proprietors Jack Woodman," the famous
bass singer of the "old Jerusalem" was
long clerk and wharfinger Jonathan Paine,
Jr., appears next, and served until 1926.
In his returns he always said he "posted a
notice for meeting on the corner OF the
market house according to the bylaws" "
This building, until 1927, stood on the south
ern corner of the entrance to the pier on
Fore street; and future clerks, up to 1874
said they put notice on the post near
where the old market house Stood"
In 1924 100 feet were added to the length of
thewharf and Benjamin Knight was made
whartinger A large number of the West
India merchants bad their cargoes landed at
the Pier. Jacob knight, formerly a cooper,
was large shipper of lumber, importing mo-
lasSeS as return cargoeS. lie had his count
ing room on the Pier, and it stands today
desks and all, as he left it on his failure In
1887. He owned the low-decked brig Rod
ney, Captain John Jones. His son Ed
ward sailed his brig Cuba. Captains Daniel
Hood and Ansel Lewis took lumber and
brought molasses for distilling to this same
wharf for the same owner. The names of
their vessels can't now recall. Captain
James Farmer, father of him Of the same
name yet in business, came from Plymouth,
Cape Cod, about the first of the century. He
was pump and blockmaker, and had his
shop on the Pier. Dudley Cammett and
John Connor were apprentices to him. The
sons of each of them pursue their fatner
trade on the same wharf where they have
been for more than 80 years. This Is suffic-
ientIy English to suit the Yankee Cockneys
who call cent penny. Captain Farmer
afterward owned the brig Galen. Captain
John Williams, nicknamed "Demijohn,"
from his form was merchant on the Pier.
He owned the jaunty little brig Edwin, with
standing royals. His son Robert sailed her.
Simeon Goold, a surveyor of lumber, owned
the small brig Eagle, which was commanded
by his son, who was swept from her deck by
a sea in 1887, which he saw coming and
warned his men te take care Of themselves.
His brother John, of steamer Lewiston MEM
ory, was his mate. Simeon Goold brought a
large part of the outward cargoes Of lumber
for the merchants of the Pier, and his SON
in-law, Charles Davidson, was the clerk and