Since its founding by Samuel Wadsworth in 1818, the ship chandlery know as S. L. Wadsworth & Son, has served the city of Eastport Maine and the Passamaquoddy Bay area supplying ship related goods to fishing boats and ships.  S.L. Wadsworth & Son helped grow Eastport into the second largest trading port in the nation after New York City.  Known as both the Nation’s oldest ship chandlery and Maine’s oldest retail business, S.L. Wadsworth & Son, Inc., continues to be operated by the same family that has called Eastport home since the beginning of the 19th century.

Samuel Bartlett Wadsworth, the founder of the chandlery, had been engaged in other related business in Eastport since 1812, when the area was occupied by British troops. Samuel was the son of General Peleg Wadsworth, aide to George Washington during the Revolution and representative to Congress for the District of Maine for 14 years. Samuel’s sister was the mother of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The Wadsworth-Longfellow House in Portland was built by General Wadsworth and was the childhood home of Samuel.

Located on the waterfront in the center of Eastport’s old Downtown Historic District, people no longer come in to purchase harpoons or whale oil, but they do come for the same quality of service and product that has been offered for the past 200+ years. They also come for the history and nostalgia that comes with passing through the front door. Today they leave with marine items, hardware, nautical gifts and a fresh memory of speaking with the present generation of Wadsworths.

Check out this interesting article from circa 1950.   STORIES OF A STOREKEEPER

Thanks to the owners of S.L. Wadsworth and Son, for permission to use photos and articles from their website.