Rectory of St. John’s Parish

The former Rectory of St. John’s Parish is located at 214 State Street, on the south side between Pleasant and Penhallow Streets.

I can find very little information about this building. It once was the Rectory of St. John’s Church and probably dates from the late-1800s. The old photograph below appeared in a 1907 North Church publication called, An Historical Calendar of Portsmouth. Next to the photo is an entry dated April 17, 1883: “The present Rectory on State Street was occupied by the family of the Rector of St. John’s.”

A handcrafted jewelry store called ellenette currently occupies the first-floor shop. Based on the lack of information about this building, it is obviously not historically important. Still, it is a shame to see its century-old bricks marred by ugly graffiti.