Prior to the Civil War, Badger's Island was famous for shipbuilding. Eastern white pine for masts, together with lumber for hulls, arrived down the Piscataqua River from inland forests. Only two tenths of a mile (322 m) from Portsmouth's busy wharves, the island's gradual slope into the deep channel between was ideal for launching vessels. First called Rising Castle Island, it changed to Langdon's Island when John Langdon established his shipyard. The first U. S. Navy ships commissioned by the Continental Congress were built here by master shipbuilder James Hackett,[1] including USS Ranger in 1777.[2] One of his apprentices working on Ranger was William Badger.[3] Acquiring 3 acres (12,000 m2) on the island in 1797, he would dominate its shipbuilding until his death in 1830, launching more than 100 ships,[3] including naval vessels, merchant vessels and privateers. The region produced many fine shipbuilders, including his nephew Samuel Badger, but William Badger, called Master Badger, is best known. He is buried on the island that bears his name.
In 1837, Frederick Fernald purchased Badger's shipyard. In 1844, he joined William Pettigrew to establish Fernald & Pettigrew, which would produce some 30 ships. Among their output was a series of clipper ships, including the Typhoon.[4] Launched in 1851, Typhoon set a sailing record to Liverpool, England—13 days, 10 hours dock to dock. Known as the "Portsmouth Flyer," it was the largest merchant ship yet seen in that port.[5] But Badger's Island would lose its importance as a shipbuilding center. The industry shifted downriver to Fernald's Island, home since 1800 to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
U.S. Navy vessels built on Badger's Island:
Map of Badger's Island, showing Fernald & Pettigrew Shipyard (1850)
Badger's Island became a terminus for the Kittery, a ferry which delivered passengers across the swift Piscataqua River from Portsmouth to the landing and waiting room of the Portsmouth, Kittery & York Street Railway. Beginning in 1897, the company ran trolleys through Kittery Point and across the salt marshes of Brave Boat Harbor to York Harbor and York Beach, the summer resort.[8] In November 1901, it became part of the Portsmouth, Dover and York Street Railway.[9] The trolley line remained in service until 1923 when the Memorial Bridge opened, the first bridge spanning the river without a toll. The section of Route 1 across the Badger's Island Bridge to Kittery's John Paul Jones Memorial Park, with its Sailors' and Soldiers' Monument by Bashka Paeff, was a City Beautiful plan to complement the Memorial Bridge.
badger, island, this, article, about, island, maine, island, australia, badger, island, located, piscataqua, river, kittery, maine, united, states, directly, opposite, portsmouth, hampshire, carries, route, between, states, connecting, kittery, mainland, bridg. This article is about the island in Maine For the island in Australia see Badger Island Badger s Island is located in the Piscataqua River at Kittery Maine United States directly opposite Portsmouth New Hampshire It carries U S Route 1 between the states connecting to the Kittery mainland by the Badger s Island Bridge and to New Hampshire by the Memorial Bridge Now largely a suburb of Portsmouth the island features houses condominiums restaurants and marinas Memorial Bridge looking toward Badger s Island Contents 1 History 1 1 Shipbuilding center 1 2 Ferry terminus for electric railway 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editShipbuilding center edit nbsp William Badger House in 1912 Badger s IslandPrior to the Civil War Badger s Island was famous for shipbuilding Eastern white pine for masts together with lumber for hulls arrived down the Piscataqua River from inland forests Only two tenths of a mile 322 m from Portsmouth s busy wharves the island s gradual slope into the deep channel between was ideal for launching vessels First called Rising Castle Island it changed to Langdon s Island when John Langdon established his shipyard The first U S Navy ships commissioned by the Continental Congress were built here by master shipbuilder James Hackett 1 including USS Ranger in 1777 2 One of his apprentices working on Ranger was William Badger 3 Acquiring 3 acres 12 000 m2 on the island in 1797 he would dominate its shipbuilding until his death in 1830 launching more than 100 ships 3 including naval vessels merchant vessels and privateers The region produced many fine shipbuilders including his nephew Samuel Badger but William Badger called Master Badger is best known He is buried on the island that bears his name In 1837 Frederick Fernald purchased Badger s shipyard In 1844 he joined William Pettigrew to establish Fernald amp Pettigrew which would produce some 30 ships Among their output was a series of clipper ships including the Typhoon 4 Launched in 1851 Typhoon set a sailing record to Liverpool England 13 days 10 hours dock to dock Known as the Portsmouth Flyer it was the largest merchant ship yet seen in that port 5 But Badger s Island would lose its importance as a shipbuilding center The industry shifted downriver to Fernald s Island home since 1800 to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard U S Navy vessels built on Badger s Island nbsp Map of Badger s Island showing Fernald amp Pettigrew Shipyard 1850 1776 Raleigh 22 gun Frigate 6 depicted on the Seal of New Hampshire 1777 Ranger 18 gun Sloop of war 6 commanded by John Paul Jones 1782 America 74 gun Ship of the line 6 presented by Congress to Louis XVI of France 1791 Scammel 14 gun Schooner 6 one of the first ten revenue service cutters 1797 Crescent 36 gun Frigate 6 a tribute vessel for Algiers 1798 Portsmouth 24 gun Sloop of war 6 funded by the citizens of Portsmouth 1799 Congress 38 gun Frigate 6 fought in the War of 1812Clipper Ships built by Fernald amp Pettigrew 7 1851 Typhoon 1 611 tons 1852 Red Rover 1 021 tons 1852 Young Australia 766 tons 1853 Water Witch 1 204 tons 1853 Dashing Wave 1180 tons 1854 Express 1073 tons 1854 Midnight 962 tons 1855 Noonday 1189 tonsFerry terminus for electric railway edit nbsp Ferry landing in 1912Badger s Island became a terminus for the Kittery a ferry which delivered passengers across the swift Piscataqua River from Portsmouth to the landing and waiting room of the Portsmouth Kittery amp York Street Railway Beginning in 1897 the company ran trolleys through Kittery Point and across the salt marshes of Brave Boat Harbor to York Harbor and York Beach the summer resort 8 In November 1901 it became part of the Portsmouth Dover and York Street Railway 9 The trolley line remained in service until 1923 when the Memorial Bridge opened the first bridge spanning the river without a toll The section of Route 1 across the Badger s Island Bridge to Kittery s John Paul Jones Memorial Park with its Sailors and Soldiers Monument by Bashka Paeff was a City Beautiful plan to complement the Memorial Bridge See also editList of Maine railroads List of islands of Maine The Portsmouth Athenaeum which preserves the portrait papers and half models of William Badger and other local shipbuildersReferences edit Donald L Canney Sailing Warships of the U S Navy Naval Institute Press 2001 Charles G Davis American Sailing Ships Their Plans and History Courier Dover Publications 1984 a b William Badger Papers The Portsmouth Athenaeum Glenn A Knoblock Portsmouth Cemeteries Arcadia Publishing 2005 Fishermen s Voice January 2001 a b c d e f g Alden 1964 p 92 Lars Bruzelius Clipper Ships Built in Portsmouth New Hampshire 1999 Seashore Trolley Museum About the Atlantic Shore Line Archived from the original on 2011 07 27 Retrieved 2010 01 15 Maine Interurbans and Streetcar Railroads Archived from the original on 2009 04 27 Retrieved 2009 04 24 Further reading editAlden John November 1964 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard United States Naval Institute Proceedings External links editKittery Historical amp Naval Museum43 4 55 N 70 45 9 W 43 08194 N 70 75250 W 43 08194 70 75250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Badger 27s Island amp oldid 1185968557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
