Reedville was developed in the 1870s by a Maine sea captain, Elijah Reed, who established a fish-oil processing plant on the small peninsula. Reed came to the area in pursuit of a small, bony fish, the menhaden, which after the Civil War provided a replacement for whale oil. He and his family built a small town, based very much on a New England maritime model. It so prospered that by 1885 fifteen menhaden processing factories, now all destroyed, were located in the area. Hotels, a bank, and other structures joined the community. Reedville also attracted other industries and wealthy industrialists who constructed summer homes. These are clustered in a sort of “millionaires' row” near the apex of the point. George Reed, the son of Elijah, constructed his house (1897–1899; 77 Main Street), a large Queen Anne affair. Next door is the Gables, the Fisher house (1909; 76 Main Street), a brick Queen Anne. Opposite is Albert Morris's house (
PE24.1) (1900; 62 Main Street), which resembles some of the designs promoted by George Barber of Knoxville. Farther north is a row of earlier houses constructed by Elijah Reed (48–53 Main Street). The Bethany United Methodist Church (1899–1901, John Steelman; later alterations; 28 Main Street) is the product of a New Jersey contractor, in a Gothic idiom.