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

Kennebunk River Drawbridge

Drawbridge Access to the Open Sea for Ships Built Here

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 30, 2024

1. Kennebunk River Drawbridge Marker

Inscription.

Kennebunk River Drawbridge. Drawbridge Access to the Open Sea for Ships Built Here. , Standing here in 1890, you would have witnessed bustling shipyards with the tap of caulkers, busy wharves, ship chandlers, and a foundry. Both sides of the Kennebunk River offered enterprising shipbuilder a sheltered location, wide banks, and deep water access to the ocean at high tide. The drawbridge linked Kennebunkport with Kennebunk Lower Village and opened for ship traffic. , Ship captains and skilled local shipwrights often collaborated on schooners designed and built here. Entrepreneurship flourished. Yet steam engines would make sailing ships obsolete within three decades and a drawbridge would no longer be needed. , Here, shipbuilders crafted fishing vessels, clippers, and Schooners; commercial sailing ships hauling coal, pine, and cotton ventured around the world and traded along the coast. , Schooners being warped through the drawbridge Here, launch day of the three-master Golden Ball built in the David Clark Shipyard. The yard was located just below South Congregational Church behind her (visible today behind you. , ( photo captions ) , , 1882: Fishing schooner Elsie M. Smith (above) being built by George Christesen in the David Clark shipyard. In February, 1902 she wrecked off Cape Cod. , , July 31, 1890 (right) the 286-ton schooner Golden Ball squeezes through the Kennebunk River draw bridge after her launch. As seen from south of the bridge. , , Shipbuilder David Clark One of the last prolific shipbuilders here. Clark built a hundred vessels in his 44 years career. Schooners including the Golden B at left, square-riggers, barks, sloops, and steamers. (oval) David Clark. Masterbuilder and Captain Wm. H Gould in front of the Savannah, 1901. , , What traces of local shipbuilding history remain? Wealth from shipping is evident in ship captains' and builders' impressive homes. Visit Kennebunkport Historical Society and the Brick Store Museum to learn more. , , Did you know? Ship launchings were quite a community affair. Schools would close so that children could watch the launch with their parents. Note the festive atmosphere.

Standing here in 1890, you would have witnessed bustling shipyards with the tap of caulkers, busy wharves, ship chandlers, and a foundry. Both sides of the Kennebunk River offered enterprising shipbuilder a sheltered location, wide banks, and deep water access to the ocean at high tide. The drawbridge linked Kennebunkport with Kennebunk Lower Village and opened for ship traffic.

Ship captains and skilled local shipwrights often collaborated on schooners designed and built here. Entrepreneurship flourished. Yet steam engines would make sailing ships obsolete within three decades and a drawbridge would no longer be needed.

Here, shipbuilders crafted fishing vessels, clippers, and Schooners; commercial sailing ships hauling coal, pine, and cotton ventured around the world and traded along the coast.

Schooners being warped through the drawbridge Here, launch day of the three-master Golden Ball built in the David Clark Shipyard. The yard was located just below South Congregational Church behind her (visible today behind you.

( photo captions )
— 1882: Fishing schooner Elsie M. Smith (above) being built by George Christesen

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in the David Clark shipyard. In February, 1902 she wrecked off Cape Cod.
— July 31, 1890 (right) the 286-ton schooner Golden Ball squeezes through the Kennebunk River draw bridge after her launch. As seen from south of the bridge.
— Shipbuilder David Clark One of the last prolific shipbuilders here. Clark built a hundred vessels in his 44 years career. Schooners including the Golden B at left, square-riggers, barks, sloops, and steamers. (oval) David Clark. Masterbuilder and Captain Wm. H Gould in front of the Savannah, 1901.
— What traces of local shipbuilding history remain? Wealth from shipping is evident in ship captains' and builders' impressive homes. Visit Kennebunkport Historical Society and the Brick Store Museum to learn more.
— Did you know? Ship launchings were quite a community affair. Schools would close so that children could watch the launch with their parents. Note the festive atmosphere.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 43° 21.664′ N, 70° 28.688′ W.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 30, 2024

2. Kennebunk River Drawbridge Marker

Marker is in Kennebunkport, Maine, in York County. It is on Dock Square south of Ocean Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kennebunk ME 04043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Southern Maine Coast.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shipbuilding along the Kennebunk River (a few steps from this marker); Bridge changes as town evolves (within shouting distance of this marker); Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vatican Pavilion Sculpture (approx. 0.4 miles away); Anchor to Windward Monument (approx. 1.4 miles away); Our President George H. W. Bush (approx. 1.4 miles away); The McCulloch House (approx. 1.9 miles away); Hugh McCulloch Home / La demeure Hugh McCulloch (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers

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in Kennebunkport.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2024, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2024, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.