Site Record
Metadata
Site# |
101 |
Site Name |
Fishermen's Point |
Description |
The point of land on the southern end of Willard Beach, accessed from the end of Deake Street, where many fishermen have maintained fishing shacks for storage of supplies such as netting, lobster traps and other material. Early history from the "History of South Portland": "William Simonton was one of the Scots-Irish immigrants who had come to Purpooduck in 1718. He maintained a wharf and warehouse at what is now Wharf Point and he carried on a profitable business in fishing and trade with the West Indies. His wharf was probably the first wharf in Portland Harbor. In the days before pile wharves, it was built of cribwork, a frame of timbers held in place by heavy rocks; spruce and hemlock logs were used in its construction. The cove in which he operated was later called Simonton Cove, a name still used, although the entire Indian trade consisted largely of lumber and fish, and the imports were rum, sugar and molasses. The cargoes were landed on the beach and taken to Portland (then Falmouth) by a team of oxen. Wharf Point was, at this time, one of the busiest places in Casco Bay." |
