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You cannot roll a barrel down a brick sidewalk.

City: Portsmouth
Funny Rating:★★★★
Added: 2026/3/18

The Law

During Portsmouth's heyday as a bustling seaport, merchants frequently transported rum, molasses, and fish in heavy wooden barrels. To prevent damage to the city's costly brick sidewalks and to keep pedestrians from being bowled over, rolling casks along the footpaths was outlawed.

Source & Citation

Code/Statute: Historical Ordinance 1811
Portsmouth City Archives

Tags:

#nh#barrels#sidewalks#history#seaport