Visit to Newburyport, Mass: Shipbuilding History, 1811 Fire

In today's blog we will tell you about our visit to Newburyport, Massachusetts, located in the northeastern part of the state. You'll learn about how the town became known as a shipbuilding center in the late 1700/early 1800s and an act created after a Great Fire in 1811 that changed the face of the downtown buildings. 

(Photo: Rob and Tom next to a sea captain statue in historic downtown Newburyport, Mass)

NEWBURYPORT IN THE 1860s - Some Of the highlights included the Market Landing Park and public boardwalk, Market Square the Custom House which is now the Maritime Museum The Inn Street at Fountain, and the Church of the First Religious Society. The Town is located on the Merrimack River so tall ships would come in and out in the 1860s.

INN STREET FOUNTAIN 

There's a fountain at Inn Street that is the symbol of Newberry Ports maritime history. It's in the historic district. 

(Photo: Of course there had to be a kid playing in the fountain when I was trying to get a picture. It was hot outside, though, so he gets a pass)

The fountain has bronze columns symbolic of wooden pilings and granite blocks salvage from the central waterfront along the Bamrimack River the granite blocks are arranged in the form of compass.

EARLY SHIPBUILDING - In the late 1700s and early 1800s shipbuilding and commerce in Newburyport rival that of Salem and Boston Massachusetts. Over about 100 years 2000 ships were built including  Clipper ships, square riggers, schooners and barques. 

(Image: The Donald McKay monster clipper of the Black Ball Line (Liverpool) of packets, 1856. Creator: W. J.  January 1856/Wikipedia) 

FATHER OF SHIPBUILDERS - Donald McKay (1810-1880) earned that title for his innovative and radical shipbuilding designs. He was the most famous Clipper Ship builder. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO SHIPBUILDING? - In the 1800s ship building declined when steam boats came along and the harbor was too small. Many different industries developed and the mills were created, and then Newburyport’s manufacturing suffered a long slow stagnation.

GREAT FIRE OF 1811 - The Great Fire of Newburyport on May 31, 1811, destroyed over 250 buildings, leveled 16 acres or 60% of the commercial center, and caused an estimated $1 million in damages. The fire began in a horse stable on Mechanics Row, spreading to Market Square and State Street and left about 90 families homeless. 

(Photo: All of the downtown buildings are brick since the 1811-12 Brick Act. Credit:RG)

OUT OF THE ASHES, THE BRICK ACT- Residents learned from the fire and created the  Brick Acts of 1811 and 1812: City leaders required all new downtown structures to be built from brick or stone with thick firewalls. 

1950s THROUGH 1970s - By the mid to late 1950s Massachusetts was trying to deal with the fading of the post-war economic boom, striking unions, rusting industrial complexes and fleeing manufacturers taking jobs with them as they left. The economy and historic downtown center was crumbling. The town was saved from neglect through the preservation and restoration of its historic downtown instead of wholesale demolition in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  For More on the Renewal of the town, visit: https://historynewburyport.com/renewal/