If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
If your travel plans include a trip to southern Maine and you have an interest in local history, keep reading this blog.
Ferry Village History
Ferry Village is in South Portland, Maine on land overlooking the Fore River and across from the Old Port district in Portland, Maine. Regular ferry service began in 1718 after John Pritchard and John Sawyer obtained ferry rights. This service was essential for transportation across the Fore River, especially before the construction of bridges.
In 1847, the Maine state legislature granted a charter for the Portland and Cape Elizabeth Ferry Company, which introduced steam powered ferries to the route. The first steam ferry, also named Elizabeth, was launched in 1848 and significantly improved transportation between Portland and Ferry Village.
In 1885, Cornelia, the first double-ended steam ferry, was introduced for this service. The Cornelia ferried passengers and horse drawn carriages for seven years before she burned. Cornelia’s route was taken up by the SS Elizabeth City in 1893.
Ferry service ended in 1934. But not so fast, as the saying goes. The ferry service was revived for a brief time during World War II to get shipyard workers from the Portland side of the Fore River over to South Portland. The South Portland shipyards employed about 30, 000 workers, including some 3,700 women, to build cargo ships.
Visiting Ferry Village
If you’d like to stay in the Ferry Village neighborhood during a trip to Portland, Maine, then consider staying in one of these Ferry Village rentals.
If you’d like tips on how to save money on other aspects of your Portland trip, then check out our Portland Budget Travel Guide.
Sources
- A Window on the Past Article in the Portland Press Herald dated October 8, 2020.
- Item 148213 – “S.S. Cornelia H” Ferry, Portland, 1887 – Vintage Maine Images
- ‘Everyone wants to live here’ Ferry service revived during World War II.
- Maine History Online – South Portland’s Wartime Shipbuilding
