Gerrish Warehouse facts for kids
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Gerrish Warehouse
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Front of the warehouse, 1965 HABS photo
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pepperrell Cove off ME 103, Kittery, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1710 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000140 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 26, 1977 |
| Removed from NRHP | September 29, 2015 |
The Gerrish Warehouse was an old building from the 1700s. It was located in Kittery Point, Maine, right on Pepperrell Cove. Built around 1710, it was a key part of the Pepperrell family's huge shipping business. Sir William Pepperrell, a famous person from that time, ran this business in the mid-1700s.
In the 1800s, the warehouse became a ship chandlery. This means it sold supplies to ships and sailors. The building was sold to the Maine Maritime Museum in 1976. It was then added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This list recognizes important historical sites.
The museum wanted to move the warehouse to a new spot. They planned to use a large boat called a barge. However, moving the building was not possible. So, the warehouse was taken down after its valuable items were saved. It was removed from the National Register in 2015.
About the Gerrish Warehouse
The Gerrish Warehouse stood on the southern shore of Kittery Point. It was near Pepperrell Road, which is also Maine State Route 103. The building was close to the cemetery of the First Congregational Church.
Building Features
The warehouse was a wooden building with two and a half stories. It had a pointed roof and outer walls made of overlapping boards. Its base was made of stone. The building was about 35 feet wide and 45 feet long.
It had large doors on its north and south sides. The doors facing the water were simple wooden boards. The doors facing north had panels. The warehouse also had windows that could slide open. Inside, there were wooden shutters that slid into place. The floors were made of plain wooden boards. People used ladder-like stairs to reach the upper levels.
History of the Warehouse
The Gerrish Warehouse was built around 1710. It was an important part of the Pepperrell family's large shipping business. The most famous member of this family was Sir William Pepperrell. He led colonial soldiers in a big battle in 1745. This battle was called the Siege of Louisbourg. He was honored with a special title for his success.
Sir William Pepperrell's family members were called Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. This meant they supported the British side. Because of this, their properties were taken by the state and sold. In 1797, the warehouse was bought by Robert Follett. His daughter later married William Thompson Gerrish.
The Gerrish family changed the building into a ship chandlery. They sold supplies like ropes, sails, and food to ships. Finally, they sold the warehouse to the Maine Maritime Museum in 1976. The museum had plans to move the building. Its foundation was slowly being worn away by the ocean tides. But these plans did not work out. The building was later taken down. The items from inside the warehouse are now kept at the museum in Bath.
