Biddeford in York County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

The Biddeford Shipyards / Les Chantiers Navals

Biddeford, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

The Biddeford Shipyards / Les Chantiers Navals Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Glen Prentice, June 14, 2022

1. The Biddeford Shipyards / Les Chantiers Navals Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Water Street area once had several shipyards. The painting is of the Mt. Washington clipper ship done while in Canton Harbor, China. Built in 1867 at the height of the China trade, the ship was the largest built on the Saco River. It had 1,217 tons in displacement, was 184 feet long with a beam of 37 feet. The Jere G. Shaw schooner (bottom photo) was the last large ship built in Biddeford. It had 793 tons displacement, was 193 feet long with a beam of 36 feet, Schooners needed only twelve men to sail compared to 36 for a clipper. The Hopkins & Allen Shipyard was reopened in 1918 to build the Shaw. Sails worth $2700 were torn in a storm on the ship's maiden voyage. The vessel was sold and investors took heavy losses.

La région de la Rue Water avait jadis plusieurs chantier navals. Le tableau peint au port de Canton en Chine démontre le clipper, Mt. Washington. Construit en 1867 à l'apogée du commerce avec la Chine, ce clipper était le plus grand vaisseau construit sur la rivière Saco. Il tenait 1,217 tonne de déplacement, avait 184 pieds de longueur, et un barrot de 37 pieds. L'autre vaisseau,

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le schooner, Jere G. Shaw, fut le dernier bâti à Biddeford en 1918. Il tanait 793 tonnes de déplacement, avait 193 pieds de longueur, et un barrot de 36 pieds. Les schooners avaient besoin de seulement douze homes pour les naviguer alors que les clipper en comptaient 36. Cette seconde photo démontre le Jere Shaw, bateau qui fit naufrage en 1930 au large du Cap Hatteras.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Biddeford, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 43° 29.551′ N, 70° 26.943′ W. Marker is in Biddeford, Maine, in York County. Marker is at the intersection of Water Street and Sullivan Street, on the right when traveling west on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Main St, Biddeford ME 04005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Biddeford, Maine (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Peirson's House / La Maison Samuel Peirson (within shouting distance of this marker); The James Sullivan Home / Le Résidence de James Sullivan (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Stone Fort

Photographed By Glen Prentice, June 14, 2022

2. The Biddeford Shipyards / Les Chantiers Navals Marker

(about 700 feet away); Fort Saco in 1693 / Le Fort Saco en 1693 (about 700 feet away); St. André's Church / L'Église Sainte André (approx. 0.2 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alfred Street / La Rue Alfred (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biddeford.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Glen Prentice of Attleboro, Mass.