Commercial Street, Portland, Maine

43.653655°N 70.255686°W / 43.653655; -70.255686

Commercial Street
Thames Street (originally)
Looking north along Commercial Street in the Old Port
Part of US 1A
Length2 mi (3.2 km)
LocationPortland, Maine, U.S.
Northeast endIndia Street
Southwest endValley Street and Fore River Parkway

Commercial Street is a downtown street in the Old Port of Portland, Maine, United States. It is part of U.S. Route 1A.[1]

In 2008, it was named one of the ten best streets in the United States by the American Planning Association.[2] Built upon old piers in the 1850s, fill was pushed into Casco Bay to accommodate the growing railroad and warehousing needs of the port's working waterfront. In the 1970s and 1980s, much of the economic activity on the street was hurt and many of the properties on the street were sold off for non-marine development, including the building of condominiums. In 1987, Portland voters, led by local fisherman based on Commercial Street, halted all non-marine development along the street and adjacent docks. Marine development around Commercial Street returned in the 1990s and 2000s (decade) alongside other economic development, including tourism-related industries.[2]

The Maine State Pier, a deepwater marine facility and outdoor music venue, is located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Franklin Street.

The street, which was originally known as Thames Street,[3] becomes West Commercial Street from beneath the Casco Bay Bridge heading west. Thames Street still exists from India Street heading northeast, eventually merging into footpaths beneath the Eastern Promenade.

Wharves and piers

The below sixteen wharves and piers are located along Commercial Street. By the time of Commercial Street's completion in 1853, four of today's remaining wharves (Chandler's, Union, Merrill's and Berlin Mills) had built tracks to Commercial Street to improve trade opportunities.[4]

Three wharves (Richardson's, Brown's and Smith's) were demolished with the creation of the City of Portland Fish Pier at the foot of Center Street.[5]

From north to south, with the aligning street(s) noted where applicable:[6]

Each pier and wharf is located on the eastern side of Commercial Street. This view, of Portland Pier, is from Silver Street
  • Maine State Pier (Franklin Street)
  • Maine Wharf
  • Custom House Wharf (Pearl Street)
  • Portland Pier (Silver Street)
  • Long Wharf (between Market Street and Moulton Street)
  • Chandler's Wharf (also known as Fisherman’s Wharf; formerly Central Wharf)[7] (Dana Street)
  • Widgery Wharf[8] (formerly at the foot of Plum Street)[9]
  • Union Wharf[8] (Union Street)
  • Merrill's Wharf (formerly Dana's Wharf)
  • City of Portland Fish Pier (Center Street)
  • Wright Wharf
  • Hobson's Wharf (formerly Sawyer's Wharf) (High Street)
  • Berlin Mills Wharf
  • Holyoke Wharf (formerly Dyer's Wharf)
  • Sturdivant's Wharf (formerly Robinson's Wharf) (Park Street)
  • Deake's Wharf

Wharves and piers that existed in the mid-19th century but have since been demolished include:[10]

  • Atlantic Railroad Wharf (India Street)
  • Brown's Wharf (Maple Street)
  • Burnham's Wharf ("opens at Fore, foot of Deer")
  • Commercial Wharf ("foot of Lime Street")
  • Franklin Wharf (Franklin Street)
  • Gas House Wharf (Clark's Point)
  • Isley Wharf (Emery Street)
  • Railway Wharf ("next west of Atlantic")
  • Railroad Wharf (State Street)
  • Railroad Pier ("east of A & St L R R depot")
  • Richardson's Wharf (Cross Street)
  • Smith's Wharf (Maple Street)
  • Smith's Pier (Maple Street)
  • (Old) Sturdivant's Wharf (Thames Street)
  • Tyler & Rice's Wharf (Clark's Point)

References
  1. "Getting Here". Casco Bay Lines. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  2. Commercial Street Portland, Maine American Planning Association
  3. The Origins of the Street Names of the City of Portland, Maine as of 1995 – Norm and Althea Green, Portland Public Library (1995)
  4. "Greater Portland Landmarks". Greater Portland Landmarks. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. "Plan of Portland, 1858". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  6. Guide to the Piers and Wharves of Portland Harbor - City of Portland
  7. "Walk the Working Waterfront" - PortlandMaine.com
  8. Carkhuff, David (January 19, 2010). "The mystery of Widgery Wharf". Portland Daily Sun. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  9. The Portland Directory and Reference Book. Brown Thurston. 1856. p. 321.
  10. The Portland Directory and Reference Book. Brown Thurston. 1856. p. 320.


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