Portsmouth in Rockingham County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Sheafe Warehouse
Photographed by James R. Murray, August 18, 2016
1. Sheafe Warehouse Marker
Inscription.
Sheafe Warehouse is one of Americas best-preserved examples of early 18th century waterfront architecture. It was originally built on interlocked tree trunks known as “cobwork” barely above the level of high tide. An overhanging second story allowed cargo to be lifted from the decks of gundalows and other small craft. The Revolutionary War Ship Ranger, built by Colonel James Hackett and commanded by John Paul Jones, is said to have been outfitted at Sheafe Warehouse.
Photo 1 , Survival in a new era as Portsmouths waterfront declined in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Sheafe Warehouse was relegated to humble status. From 1850 until 1900, Joshua Stackpole used the structure as a carpenter shop and maintained it in only moderately good repair. In subsequent decades, Charles H. Stewart, proprietor of a nearby house of ill fame and an early antique dealer, used the building for storage. He sold it to the founders of Prescott Park in the 1930s, after which the structure was moved to its present location within the park and restored. The Great Bay, a Visual History, 1970, exhibition catalogue, Scudder Gallery, Paul Creative Arts Gallery, University of New Hampshire. Courtesy of Richard Candee.
Photo 2 , 1904 Map After the warehouse was sold to the founders of Prescott Park, it was moved approximately 400 feet from its original location, only feet away from the Point of Graves cemetery, which survives today. This map shows how the waterway extended further inland beyond present day Marcy Street before it was filled by the city in 1899. Sanborn Map of Portsmouth N.H. Sanborn Map Company, New York. Courtesy of the Portsmouth Athenaeum.
Photo 3 , Original Location Note that in this 1813 map, the Sheafe Warehouse is in the same location as the 1904 map (above). In the map the portion of Mechanic Street nearest the Burying Ground is called Gravesend Street. Map of the compact port of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire, 1813 J.G. Hales Cartographer, Courtesy of the Portsmouth Athenaeum.
Photos 4&5 , Artistic Subject Sheafe Warehouse was the subject of nineteenth century antiquarian photographs and romantic paintings like this Sarah Haven Foster watercolor (above) and painting by Russell Cheney (right). Today it is noted for its ancient and well-preserved frame. The second floor is braced by wooden “knees “similar to those used in ship construction and often cut from the roots and trunks of the native tamarack trees. Above: Warehouse of Jacob Sheafe, 1740, Mechanic Street, Watercolor, Sarah Haven Foster Collection. Courtesy of the Portsmouth Public Library. Right:” Sheafe Warehouse from Point of Graves” Painting by Russell Cheney, 1930s. Private Collection Funding for this historic marker was provided by the City of Portsmouth, 2009. www.cityofportsmouth.com
Sheafe Warehouse is one of Americas best-preserved examples of early 18th century waterfront architecture. It was originally built on interlocked tree trunks known as “cobwork” barely above the level of high tide. An overhanging second story allowed cargo to be lifted from the decks of gundalows and other small craft. The Revolutionary War Ship Ranger, built by Colonel James Hackett and commanded by John Paul Jones, is said to have been outfitted at Sheafe Warehouse.
Photo 1 Survival in a new era as Portsmouths waterfront declined in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Sheafe Warehouse was relegated to humble status. From 1850 until 1900, Joshua Stackpole used the structure as a carpenter shop and maintained it in only moderately good repair. In subsequent decades, Charles H. Stewart, proprietor of a nearby house of ill fame and an early antique dealer, used the building for storage. He sold it to the founders of Prescott Park in the 1930s, after which the structure was moved to its present location within the park and restored. The Great Bay, a Visual History, 1970, exhibition catalogue, Scudder Gallery, Paul Creative Arts Gallery, University of New Hampshire. Courtesy of Richard Candee.
Photo 2 1904 Map After the warehouse was sold to the founders of Prescott Park, it was moved approximately 400 feet from its original location, only feet away from the Point of Graves cemetery, which survives today. This map shows how the waterway extended further inland beyond present day Marcy Street before it was filled by the city in 1899. Sanborn Map of Portsmouth N.H. Sanborn Map Company, New York. Courtesy of the Portsmouth Athenaeum.
Photo 3 Original Location Note that in this 1813 map, the Sheafe Warehouse is in the same location as the 1904 map (above). In the map the portion of Mechanic Street nearest the Burying Ground is called Gravesend Street. Map of the compact port of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire, 1813 J.G. Hales Cartographer, Courtesy of the Portsmouth Athenaeum.
Photos 4&5 Artistic Subject Sheafe Warehouse was the subject of nineteenth century antiquarian photographs and romantic paintings like this Sarah Haven Foster watercolor (above) and painting by Russell Cheney (right). Today it is noted for its ancient and well-preserved frame. The second floor is braced by wooden “knees “similar to those used in ship construction and often cut from the roots and trunks of the native tamarack trees. Above: Warehouse of Jacob Sheafe, 1740, Mechanic Street, Watercolor, Sarah Haven Foster Collection. Courtesy of the Portsmouth Public Library. Right:” Sheafe Warehouse from Point of Graves” Painting by Russell Cheney, 1930s. Private Collection
Funding for this historic marker was provided by the City of Portsmouth, 2009. www.cityofportsmouth.com
Erected 2009
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by City of Portsmouth NH.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 43° 4.539′ N, 70° 45.029′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in Rockingham County. It is on Mechanic Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is in the corner of Prospect Park, on Mechanic Street, just before you cross over the Pierce Island Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth NH 03801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Point of Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Point of Graves (within shouting
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 787 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
