A Maritime Town on the Frontier


Plan of Falmouth Neck, 1690

Plan of Falmouth Neck, 1690
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Maine Historical Society

Peleg Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War veteran, built his brick house on what was then Back Street in Portland just after the Revolution.

At the time, Portland (known as Falmouth) began to develop as the center of economic and commercial activity on what was then the Maine frontier.

This early map of Falmouth Neck depicts the area as the English colonists settled it. It was dominated by forests and swamps, which dwarf the early settlement.

John Ingersoll deed to Peleg Wadsworth, Portland, 1784

John Ingersoll deed to Peleg Wadsworth, Portland, 1784
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Maine Historical Society

Wadsworth bought the lot from John Ingersoll of Boston for 100 pounds on December 7, 1784.

The lot was described as being one and a half acres and next to and northeast of a lot owned by Capt. Arthur McLellan.

It ran from the street to Back Cove. The land originally had been granted to Daniel Ingersoll.

Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland, ca. 1910

Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland, ca. 1910
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Maine Historical Society

As the city evolved, so did the neighborhood surrounding the house.

Entrepreneurs opened new businesses, families found new and different types of residences, and many more people began to work and live nearby.

Plan of Falmouth as it appeared in 1775

Plan of Falmouth as it appeared in 1775
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Maine Historical Society

"What will you do for a cow? If Charles cannot provide a milk cow you must buy one, for the family cannot do without."
(Peleg Wadsworth from Washington, D.C., to his son George, December 30, 1800)

Wadsworth built his house, barn, and store over a period of three years beginning in 1784.

To the rear of the house there was a garden, and orchard, and room for cows and horses.

He and his wife, Elizabeth Bartlett, raised their family of 10 children in the house that they inhabited for 20 years.

Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Store, 1882

Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Store, 1882
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Maine Historical Society

For Peleg, like many in the era, the home was also the site of his work.

Immediately next to the house Peleg built a warehouse he used to store and sell goods.

The barn at the rear housed the animals and equipment he needed to manage the property and support his family.

Wadsworth also worked as a surveyor.

Surveyor's half chain, ca. 1800

Surveyor's half chain, ca. 1800
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Maine Historical Society

The front of Wadsworth’s property on Congress Street measured 66 feet, the length of one surveyor’s chain.

This half chain measures 33 feet long. The chain was an essential tool for laying out property boundaries in early Portland.

Clay Cove, Portland, 1840

Clay Cove, Portland, 1840
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Maine Historical Society

When Peleg bought his property, the area was sparsely settled.

Few houses stood on this part of what later became known as Portland and there was no development between the house and Back Cove.

Gradually, owners built houses and shops along the expanding grid of streets – and a young city took form.

Falmouth Neck as Destroyed, 1880

Falmouth Neck as Destroyed, 1880
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Maine Historical Society

For Portland, this was a period of dramatic change.

The town was rebuilding after the Revolutionary War.

Panorama, Falmouth, ca. 1786

Panorama, Falmouth, ca. 1786
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Maine Historical Society

In 1790, the population of Portland was about 2,240; twenty years later, it had more than tripled to 7,100.

Maritime trade was the foundation of the economy and wood was a primary resource for trade and local industry.

Model of "United States," Wiscasset, ca. 1844

Model of "United States," Wiscasset, ca. 1844
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Maine Historical Society


Merchants relied on ships like the United States to export cargoes of wood, fish, furs, and other local materials and return home with imported products from ports around the world.

Peleg Wadsworth store advertisement, Portland, 1785

Peleg Wadsworth store advertisement, Portland, 1785
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Maine Historical Society

While Wadsworth was active in local politics and business affairs, he also was building a farm in Hiram, where he owned 7,800 acres.

His sons Charles and John had moved to Hiram and built farms for their families.

In 1807, Peleg and Elizabeth moved there to occupy a new farmstead, leaving their home in Portland to their daughters Zilpah and Lucia.

 Falmouth Fire Society rules and orders, Portland, ca. 1783

Falmouth Fire Society rules and orders, Portland, ca. 1783
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Maine Historical Society

Fire!

Some of the first laws passed by town leaders in the 1760s established rules and regulations to protect local citizens from fire.

These laws reflected the common interest in the safety of all city residents and their property by encouraging citizens to show care in their use of fires and in the maintenance of stoves and chimneys.

Stephen Longfellow fire bucket, Portland, 1803

Stephen Longfellow fire bucket, Portland, 1803
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Maine Historical Society

In the 18th and 19th centuries many communities required homeowners to have fire buckets.

When a fire alarm was sounded, residents were expected to use their buckets to assist in putting out the fires.

Freeman fire bucket, 1783

Freeman fire bucket, 1783
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Maine Historical Society

Each bucket was painted with the homeowner’s first initial and last name so that they could be returned after the fire was extinguished.

This fire bucket has the words, "NO2/S-FREEMAN/1783" and "Bought by J.M.GERRISH 1831" written on it.

It probably belonged to Samuel Freeman (1731-1813), a prominent resident of Portland.

Fire-Wards of Portland warnings, 1818

Fire-Wards of Portland warnings, 1818
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Maine Historical Society

"Vigilance and carefulness are at all time indispensable duties of every citizen…a moment’s carelessness may destroy the hard earnings of a whole life, and involve hundreds in distress."

- C.B. Brooks, Chairman, Portland Fire-Wards, 1818

Town leaders appointed fire wards to look for fires or situations that could lead to fires.

Fire wards directed the actions of those fighting the fire. They had police powers and could order citizens to assist.

They also could arrest anyone stealing property from a fire scene.

Police siren, Portland, ca. 1820

Police siren, Portland, ca. 1820
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Maine Historical Society

When a fire started, the wards sounded the alarm by using a rattle or by crying "Fire!"

By 1787, town residents voted to acquire a hand-pump fire engine and appointed a crew to maintain and man the new pumper, named "Neptune."

For their service, these men were exempted from "common and ordinary military duty, from serving as Jurors, or in the office of Constable."

The engine men met on a regular basis for care and maintenance of the engine, and remained in readiness to respond to fire in any part of the city.

Cummings fire bucket, Deering, ca. 1813

Cummings fire bucket, Deering, ca. 1813
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Maine Historical Society

For wealthier residents, membership in a fire society provided additional protection.

Founded in 1783, the Falmouth Fire Society, like most fire societies, limited its membership to 30, all of whom were the wealthiest or leading citizens of the town.

Fire Bucket, ca. 1806

Fire Bucket, ca. 1806
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Maine Historical Society

Private fire society rules required that all members equip themselves with two leather fire buckets and two cloth bags (to gather valuable possessions).

When a fire alarm sounded, members were to assemble at the home or business on fire and work to secure the members' possessions.

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