The Town of Kittery

The Town of Kittery

Kittery, Maine

Date of Visit: April 25, 2013

            I visited the bustling metropolis of Kittery. It is the southernmost town in the State of Maine. It is also the first town in the State, founded on October 20, 1647. According to the official Kittery web site, Kittery, like many towns was named after an area in England and the first settlers were mostly fisherman, woodsman, hunters and trappers.

The town of Kittery sits along the Piscataqua River and is the first town you enter as you come north from New Hampshire. There are three bridges connecting Kittery with Portsmouth, NH (only one is currently open) and is the home of the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard which is used for remodeling and repairing US Navy submarines.

According to the Navy, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the oldest continuously-operating shipyard in the United States Navy. It is the shipyard that commissioned the first British war ship in 1690 and it has a rich history of ship building with many famous ships being built and repaired, the most famous was the refurbishing of the USS Constitution. The yard started building submarines for World War I and continued to build them through World War II and launched its last in 1969. Unfortunately, under current conditions, taking pictures of the Ship Yard is not allowed, but as you drive through the area evidence of its history is shown in its buildings.

    

         John Paul Jones Park is located in the middle of US Route 1 just after crossing into Maine. In this park sits a monument to the Soldiers and Sailors of Maine and has been placed on the National Register of Historical Places.

    

            As you walk or drive through the “Downtown” Kittery, there are still many old buildings. Kittery has become a large tourist area with multiple outlet stores and one of my favorite places, The Kittery Trading Post. The town has a history as a trading area dating back to its establishment and will continue for the unforeseen future. Kittery is a beautiful Maine town which everyone should visit and explore.