LB2007.1.72068

Isle of Shoals, Steamboat, Houses, Various Boats, Flag, People The steamer E. P. Shaw at the landing at Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, a group of islands spanning the borders of Maine and New Hampshire. The steamer was named for the owner of the People's Line, Edward P. Shaw. Edward Payson Shaw was born on Charter Street in Newburyport on Sept. 1, 1841. He was the son of Samuel and Abigail Shaw, his mother being a descendent of Josiah Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was educated in local schools but declined further education, choosing to go into business instead. At the age of 15, he entered the hack business and at the age of 22 owned and operated an express line between Newburyport and Boston. In 1880, Edward P. Shaw and others organized the People's Line of Steamers to carry passengers and merchandise between Haverhill, Amesbury and other towns on the Merrimack River and Newburyport and Boston. In 1882 he had established a steamboat line between Newburyport and Black Rocks at Salisbury Beach. In 1883 the steamer E. P. Shaw, built at Petty's Island, New Jersey was employed in the transportation of passengers to Black Rocks during the summer months In 1884 he took control of a narrow-gauge horse car railway that ran from Black Rocks to Salisbury Beach Center. He installed standard gauge track and replaced the horses with a steam engine. This became the Black Rocks and Salisbury Beach Street Railway and eventually he extended it to Salisbury Square and then to Newburyport and Amesbury. He became the largest land owner at Salisbury Beach. He was the beach's greatest promoter and developer of recreational facilities of the 1880s and 1890s. His proudest accomplishment at the beach was the construction of the 60-room Hotel Cushing, which opened in 1897 and expanded to over 100 rooms a few years later. In 1867, Edward Payson Shaw married Annie Payson Trott of Bath, Maine. They had three daughters and two sons. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1881 through 1883 and again in 1888-1889. In November of 1887, Mr. Shaw with others established the Newburyport Car Manufacturing Company on Merrimac Street near Brown's Wharf. Trolley cars made there were sold throughout New England. The company developed an excellent reputation. E.P. Shaw's good fortunes began to decline soon after the closing of his car company. Some of his investments went bad. He was forced to sell a lot of his holdings, but that was not enough. On Jan. 25, 1909, he declared bankruptcy, having liabilities of over $1 million. All was lost. Mrs. Shaw died in August of 1912. Mr. Shaw eventually went to live in Brookline with one of his daughters and he died suddenly on July 4, 1921, while visiting another daughter in Bellport, R.I.