Comprised of over 115 structures, the South Berwick Village Historic District has twenty-eight buildings constructed prior to statehood. The historic district is centered along Main Street and Portland Street and is made-up of residential, commercial and civic buildings. Most buildings in the district are wood-framed and the earliest residences feature the Georgian or Federal styles. These structures are generally one or two stories with rectangular footprints and side-gabled roofs. Many have a symmetrical front facade with a central entry, such as the c.1795 Joseph Murphy House pictured here. Located east of the Salmon Falls River, the village was historically known as The Plains. Much of the village's early development is tied to Salmon Falls River, which was home to numerous wharves and shipyards. Later the Boston Post Road became an important inland route which connected the town with Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Portland, Maine. The intersection of Paul and Main Street was a prominent location in town, and the Frost Tavern/Paul Hotel occupies one corner. The tavern/hotel operated from 1815 to 1909 and is evidence of the important role in which transportation and commerce played in the villages development.
Year Listed: 2010
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=76142dd1-1cea-45b3-a576-3b52f539e6da