1769-1775 Middle Street, near the corner of King Street.

* Engine House destroyed during Revolutionary War.

1719 – Portland was originally a part of the Town of Falmouth in the Province of Maine, in the Colony of Massachusetts, one of the original thirteen States.  The peninsula area was called “Falmouth Neck.”

1768 – Local merchants and tradesmen raised money through a private subscription to purchase a fire engine to protect their businesses and properties.  No information is known of the engine or builder.

March 28, 1769 – Town Meeting held.   Article-12: “To hear the request of Mr. Paul Little and others relating to those men that belong to the Engine and to vote the same as the Town sees cause.”

Another Town Meeting was scheduled for May 22nd at the Town House to vote on two articles. 

Article-2: “To see if the Town will clear the Engine Men according to their request.”

May 22, 1769 – “Voted that Paul Little (and the 14 listed) with two others they shall choose  be excused from serving in any Town Office until March, 1775, in consideration of their taking care of and managing the Engine.”  * Recorded in Falmouth Book of Records, page 603, at Portland City Clerk’s Office.

Engine Company: Paul Little Samuel Owen Caleb Carter

William Owen Smith Cobb Thomas Bradbury

Jedidiah Cobb Moses Plummer David Bradish

Daniel Pettingell Abner Lowell John Rand

* Two Unknown. Zebulon Noyes Benjamin Rand Peter Thomas

A small wooden engine house was built on Middle Street, near the northwest corner of King Street, which was previously called Broad Street, and later renamed India Street.

May 25, 1774 – “Town house, school house and engine house removed” (From Dr. Deane’s diary, page 335).

This was to make way for a new Court House at the corner of Middle & King streets.  After it was built the engine house was placed to the left of the new court house next to another small building.  These three buildings are detailed on the 1775 map drawn by Mr. Charles Goodhue after the British attack. 

June 15, 1775 – “Stroudwater meeting-house in danger of being burnt, the engine carried up.”

(From Dr. Deane’s diary, page 338)

October 18, 1775 – The Engine, Engine House, 414 buildings, and 11 ships destroyed, when Falmouth Neck was burned and bombarded by England’s ships, the Canceau and four other vessels, under command of Captain Henry Mowat, a British Naval Lieutenant.

“18. Wednesday. The town destroyed: fine day.” (Dr. Deane’s diary, page 339)

“At nine A.M. they began and continued until dark, with their mortars and cannons, when with marines landing, they burnt all the lower part of the town and up as far as Mr. Bradbury’s, except Mrs. Ross’ two houses, and son Thomas’ shop and stores, my house being included.”  (Revd. Smith’s diary, page 230)