Bath in Sagadahoc County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Site of the Blacksmith Shop (1897, 1913)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2011

1. Site of the Blacksmith Shop (1897, 1913) Marker

Inscription.
The blacksmith shop was the first building constructed by Percy & Small after they purchased the old Blaisdell shipyard site from William Donnell in 1896. It was furnished with forges, bellows, and anvils for fabricating large quantities of ironwork for the vessels. One section was a machine shop. The boiler for the steam box (used for steam-bending wood) was also located here.

The shop had a clay floor for fire resistance, the yard's only water hydrant (to supply the quenching barrels), and 500 feet of fire hose. Despite these precautions, the shop burned to the ground in 1913. The rebuilt blacksmith shop served until the yard closed in 1920. It was dismantled in the late 1930s.

[Background photo caption reads]
A good view of the blacksmith shop on launch day for the schooner M.D. Cressy in 1899.

Erected by Maine Maritime Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 43° 53.668′ N, 69° 48.995′ W. Marker is in Bath, Maine, in Sagadahoc County. Marker is on the grounds of the Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bath ME 04530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. Mill & Joiner Shop (1899) (within shouting distance of this marker); Transformer House (1909) (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mould Loft (1917) (within shouting distance of this marker); Wyoming Sculpture (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the South Ways (ca. 1867) (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pitch Oven (1902) (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipyard Owner's Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Bath Iron Works (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bath.

More about this marker. The Maine Maritime Museum is on the grounds of the former Percy & Small Shipyard, which was the last remaining intact wooden sailing vessel shipyard in the United States.

Also see . . . Maine Maritime Museum. (Submitted on January 31, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2011

2. Site of the Blacksmith Shop (1897, 1913) Marker

Museum building in background

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 31, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.