USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > Portland by the sea; an historical treatise > Part 14
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This city is still Portland by the Sea, but in a sense broader and more comprehensive than that of former days. Its citizens may well feel a worthy pride in their home city. Its interests are reciprocal with those of State and Nation. It is still the beautiful and more beautiful town and its future seems assured.
PORTLAND BRIDGE
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XXVI
SOME FACTS PERTAINING TO PRESENT PORTLAND.
I N the year 1900 the inhabitants within the city proper numbered rising 50,000. At the present time it claims an enumeration of more than 75,000 and also a property valuation that has doubled in the same period, yet these figures tell only a part of the story. Portland has what may be called a sphere of influence and association with adjoining municipalities. It has prestige additional to its own, derived from community of interest with an industrious and prosperous pop- ulation occupying an arca larger than that of Ancient Falmouth. Reckoning its own aggre- gation together with those whose interests are connected with it, we find numerically more than one hundred thousand people who to a considerable extent act together.
Locally Portland has more business and pro- duction of its own than is commonly mentioned. It would surely be advantageous to take measures to make these actualities better known. Reference to the city directory shows 307 manufacturing establishments here, employing some six thousand operatives, with an annual product of about thirty million dollars. It is a shopping center for an urban and suburban population of two hundred and fifty thousand people, exclusive of its large . summer population. It has the second largest
236
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PORTLAND BY THE SEA
hotel accommodations of any city in New England.
Substantially the greatest feature of value that Portland has is its wonderful harbor. It is the most easterly of any in the United States suitable for a port of entry, and is 116 miles nearer to Europe than any other. It is three and one-half miles from the open sea by an open, clear, natural channel of from thirty-five to fifty feet in depth, being suitable for passage by the largest ships, and these can run directly to the city docks. It is always ice-free, and constitutes a certain and enduring asset which cannot be lessened in impor- tance by any changes which a forecast of world development may suggest. This is recognized by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in Washington as one of the eight principal ports in the United States, and from statistics compiled by them are records showing that during an average year there is exported from this port to foreign destinations, principally to the United Kingdom, approximately 600,000 tons of miscel- laneous freight, of which an average of 20,000,000 bushels of grain is exported annually. The harbor proper is in all its parts sheltered and deep and would take in the navies of the world. Steamers of the Eastern Steamship Lines ply between Portland and Boston, and Portland and New York, all the year and give splendid service. The Argonaut-Isthmian Line carries freight to and from the West Coast ports via the Panama Canal and maintains semi-monthly sailings. Tank steam- ers of the large oil companies are also regular visitors. Corporations controlling large deep water
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PRESENT PORTLAND
ships conveying both freight and passengers make this a terminal station.
The Forest City no longer has its own superior shipping fleet, but the same may be said of all other Atlantic ports. Foreign steamer lines have changed the character of ocean transportation, and the American flag makes small showing upon the seas. Yet its commerce with places abroad is of large consequence and it is a very important shipping commercial port. It has forty-six wharves, exclusive of the million and a half dollar State Pier, which alone can accommodate almost unlim- ited business. The Grand Trunk Railway freight terminals and grain elevators easily care for the handling of more than the twenty million bushels of grain exports per year, and also for immense quantities of other freight. It is suggestive that two thousand freight cars at one time have been reported as waiting to unload. Great ocean liners ply regularly between this and foreign ports and, besides the steamboat connections which are kept up with Boston, New York and coastwise places, sailing vessels also in considerable numbers make this their home port.
It goes without saying that this is the principal railway center of Maine. The Boston and Maine R.R. with its extensive ramifications and connec- tions and the Maine Central R.R. System that includes most of the railroads of the State, make their terminals here. Of special importance is the Grand Trunk Railway, which, with its branches, make communications even to the Pacific Coast, · so that this has become the winter outlet of
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PORTLAND BY THE SEA
Canada. The general facilities for reaching for- eign and domestic markets are unsurpassed. Now that electric power has attained commanding prominence in so many ways it is worthy of note that this place, by reason of convenient water power is in touch with an estimated 500,000 hydro- electric units, already developed, and with an additional 1,000,000 awaiting development. It is not here attempted to make an enumeration of the business and material assets of the town, but merely to mention some of those more prominent, in order to give a safe and conservative basis for present realization and for future expectation.
Portland that in carly times was conspicuously open to foreign attack, has now become one of the most strongly fortified places in the whole country. The old forts are obsolete, but the pres- ent outer works command the sea front for a range of more than fifteen miles. The new forts with barracks, training fields and equipments would easily furnish quarters for thirty thousand troops. As a naval station it is regarded as practically impregnable. A glance at the map shows the importance of this as a strategic position. Reaching out so far oceanward as it does, it would be a base for assault upon the rear of any naval force that might attempt an offensive against Boston, New York or any Eastern place. This, therefore, may be considered as being, in case of war, the guardian position of the Coast. During the World War and the submarine menace, expeditionary troops came and went silently from this rendezvous in great numbers. The fact that the first light-house
OLD FIRST PARISH CHURCH
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PRESENT PORTLAND
established by the United States Government in 1791 was located at Portland Head shows the appreciation of the importance of this locality.
Casco Bay, it may be said without depreciation of any other part of the generally unsurpassed Maine Coast, has a pre-eminence which cannot be gainsaid. From its eastern headland at Cape Small Point it extends westerly eighteen miles to Cape Elizabeth and about twelve miles inland. It contains many islands, popularly numbered at 365 but the count gives in fact some 200, part of them being scarcely more than tufts of verdure and trees, bordered with ledge and rising above the water surface. These islands, with their varied and individual attractions, are to Portland what the Hesperides were and are to Greece. Pleasure excursions may take an outer course upon the open sea, or an inner course among the varying attractions of the islands themselves and along the coast within. This coast has new vistas constantly opening as one follows its tortuous outlines, and all along are presented changing features of shore frontage and distant hills and landscape, so that, with invigorating breezes from the land and the ocean, the bay furnishes an unfailing supply of comfort and delight. On such a pleasant sail one is wont to recall the words of Martin Pring, one of the first of the early voyagers, who in his report in 1603 declared this to be "a land full of God's good blessings."
To the State of Maine and to Portland has come in recent years a condition of affairs that is of increasing importance. This is the result of
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240
PORTLAND BY THE SEA
the welcome tourist invasion, a product of re- cent times. The rise of the common people and the uplift of the world have expanded man's opportunities and widened man's vision. This has developed the more strenuous life with its over-taxing of body and brain. The rapid pace attendant upon living conditions has made periods of relaxation necessary even for the performance of better work. One of the greatest advances made by the medical profession in the modern days has been its appreciation of the practical hygienic value of rest and recreation in the upkeep and renewal of human personality, physically, mentally and spiritually also.
Since the time when the long-ago explorers visited the Maine Coast, its attractions in the time of summer heat have been proclaimed. Our own people have known this always. Those who are over-wrought and weary, and pleasure seekers also, have now found it out and come to share in its comforts and felicity. More than a million of people come to Maine for recreation and health each year. This has produced business that is valuable as well as new. The cold Labrador cur- rent along the shore, and the hills and woods of the interior, are both agreeable and business assets. The beauty of the wonderful harbor of Portland and the varied attractions of Casco Bay have a practical as well as an aesthetic element. Maine in summer is the great Vacationland and nature's sanitarium and Portland is America's Sunrise Gateway.
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241
PRESENT PORTLAND
This is the general railway distributing point, and splendid motor roads radiate from the city in all directions. The coming and the enter- tainment of the multitude, who for a time regard themselves as individuals of wealth and leisure, is productive to many of our people of substantial business and profit. This visitation is not for the summer months only, for it is becoming apparent that our bracing and invigorating winter climate is also a source of health and pleasure, and out-of-door sports in the colder seasons make increasingly their appeal.
In brief recapitulation of what may be called the community assets and natural advantages which place this city among the best of comfortable and worth-while municipalities, one may call atten- tion to a few of those things which are more prominent. It has churches, some seventy-five in number, with church edifices of excellent quality. In an educational way very high standing is maintained, there being two high schools having buildings and equipments so good as to attract particular attention, and grade schools of such excellence that they alone are an inducement to many to make their permanent homes here. The Maine General Hospital and the private hospitals receive the patronage of patients from the vicinage and from long distances away; the many charities are worthy and efficient; the Public City Library, also that of the Maine Historical Society and others, rank among the best; the business situ- ation, as has already been mentioned, is upon a · solid and expanding foundation; to lovers of
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PORTLAND BY THE SEA
music the Municipal Organ and the annual music festivals are most attractive; as a shopping district there are retail stores and department stores that rank well with the best of those in the large cities; the Society of Art has a collection, including the Franklin Simmons contribution, that wins the notice of the best critics; the water supply, obtained by gravity flow from Sebago Lake, bears the strictest test for purity.
The place has natural attractions of its own, and has also ready and convenient connections with other places such as the Bay of Casco that is its pride and boast; the White Mountain region; Sebago Lake and its winding Songo River; Old Orchard, the Coney Island of Maine; Prouts Neck and Kennebunkport; the Moosehead and Rangeley Lakes regions and the numerous shore resorts at the eastward, including Mount Desert, Boothbay Harbor, Castine and many besides. In the long list may be found cities, villages and country towns of the interior having scenery of farm lands, rivers and hills; likewise there are the woodlands and hunting grounds of the North and others too numerous for mention. To all this aggregation one has access through Portland which, while it maintains its own proper per- sonality, is the common portal for admission to the rest.
Yet, while appreciative of this attractive pan- orama, the resident people place their highest estimate upon Portland as a city of homes, having wholesome community life, a citizenship of highest
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PRESENT PORTLAND
quality and unobtrusive culture, and possessing local pride that calls for no apology.
It will hardly be denied that a review, however simple and casual, of this town rehearses a story that is not wanting in the elements of tragedy and romance. It was long a coveted prize in the duel between aristocratic privilege and popular rights. Twice, after having a foundation established with hardship and danger, it was wholly depopulated and destroyed by war. Once it was almost com- pletely wrecked by bombardment. Once it be- came overwhelmed by commercial disaster and once by fire. Yet with sturdy courage it has each time recovered and has inscribed upon its municipal seal the motto, Resurgam, I will arise. So, with gratitude for the accomplishments of the past and appreciation for the blessings of the present, the city that is seated by the sea con- fidently hopes steadily to keep rising and having such new advancement as may make its future constantly better than its past.
INDEX
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INDEX
Page
A
Acadia
85, 87, 104
Alger Settlement
66
American House.
100
Andros, Sir Edmund 74, 76
Androscoggin and Ken-
nebec Railroad Co.
.201
Annapolis Valley
16
Archer (schooner)
212
Argonaut-Isthmian
Line
236
Art, Society
242
Aucocisco
31
Atlantic and St. Law-
rence Railway .... 200-201
B
Back Bay
196
Back Cove
80
Back Street
99
Bagnall, Walter
.27, 28
Banks
168, 192, 195
Baxter, James P
225
Bayley, Robert
102
Black Point ...... 26, 29, 52
Black Will
28
Elyth, Captain Samuel .. 177
Bonythorn, Richard.
44
Boston and Maine R. R.
199, 200, 237
Boundaries
.... 26, 52, 154
Bowne, Eliza South-
gate
169
Boxer (brig)
176-77
Page
Brackett, Anthony
54, 67, 69, 71
Bramhall, George .... 54, 69
Bramhall's Point ..
.165
Bridges
100, 116, 164-65, 233
Broad Street.
98, 99
Brown Company
204
Brunswick
105
Burnham, George
232
Burroughs, Rev. George 64
Burrows, Captain.
177
Buxton
104
C
Caleb Cushing
( cutter)
213
Cammock, Captain
31
Cammock
.25, 29
Canal Bank
191-92
Canals
191-92
Canceau (sloop)
136
Capisic
64, 80
Capital
186, 187
Casco
27, 52, 63
Casco Bay
13, 16, 30, 30-31, 239
Casco Fort.
89, 90
Casco Neck
30, 38, 41-48, 68
Cerberus (ship)
145
Church, Captain
86
Church, Major Benja-
min
80
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Page
Churches
100-101, 123-24, 141,
241
"Citadel"
162
City Government
193-94, 233-34
City Hall ..
.192, 232
City Manager
233
Civil War
206-214
Clapboard Island
.51, 52
Clapp Block
190
Clark, Thaddeus.
71, 82
Clay Cove.
100
Cleeve, Elizabeth
29
Cleeve, George
28-30, 38, 39, 41-48, 52, 53
Cleeve, Joan.
29
Colonization
16-32
Commercial Street .. 99, 202
Congress Street
98, 99, 216
Coulson, Capt. Samuel .. 136
Council for New Eng- land 24-25, 26, 37
Court House
122, 123, 141, 158, 192,
232
Court House, U.S.
.232
Court of Common
Pleas 104
Court Street.
192
Courts 44, 54, 104 Cumberland (town) ...... 26 Cumberland (county) .. 121 Cumberland and Oxford
Canal
191-92
Curtis, Cyrus H. K.
232
Cushing's Island
154
Custom House
141
Page
Cutter, Levi.
196
D
Davis, Captain
83-84
Deane, Rev. Samuel
.. 101
Deering ...... 26, 196, 226-28
Deering Bridge.
.1.65
Deering Oaks
80, 224
Dunstan.
66, 103
Dy, John.
38
E
Eastern Promenade.
...
196
Eastern Steamship
Lines
236
Elizabeth, Cape
20, 26, 29, 53, 102, 154, 155
Elm Tavern
190
Embargo Bill
172-73
Emerson, Andrew L ..... 194
English in America
15, 16, 19-25, 26-28 Enterprise (brig) .... 176-77 Exchange Street .... 99, 216
Falmouth (Old)
26, 52-53, 59, 63, 67-68, 71, 84, 87, 89, 92, 139-42
Falmouth Neck
30, 53, 71, 92, 113, 116, 143, 152-54
Fassett, Fred H
222
Ferries
100
Fiddle Lane.
99
Fires
140-41, 218-20
First Parish Church .... 141
Fish
21-22
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Page
Page
Fish Street
99
Fore River
27, 116, 165
Fore Street
98, 99, 165, 203
Forest City
217
Fort Allen Park
145
Fort Preble Point
64, 80, 100
Fortifications
111, 145, 162-63, 238
Forts .... 69, 89-90, 162, 163
Free Street.
217
Freeman, Samuel
158
Freemen
34-35
French in America
15, 16, 17, 23-24, 63, . . 78, 79
French and Indian War
78-87
Frontenac, Count
78, 80, 86
Fur
22-23
G
General Court
54
Gibson, Rev. Richard
37
"Girl's Life Eighty
Years Ago".
169
Godfrey, Edward.
44, 51
Goodyear, Moses
29
Gorges, Sir Ferdinando
18, 24-25, 28, 36, 37-38
Gorges, Thomas.
44
Gorham
104
Grand Trunk Railway
69, 201, 204, 237-38
Graves, Admiral
137
Great Walt.
27-28
· Greele, Alice ...
.141, 145
H
Harbor
236
Heigon, Mogg.
65-66
Henry IV
15, 16, 24
Hertel
81
High King Street
99
Hodge, Nicholas
102
Horse Railways ..
.224, 230
Hospitals
225, 241
House Island .... 26-27, 163
Hyder Alley
(privateer)
... . ...
.176
I
Incorporation .. 154, 193-94
India Street.
.99, 216
Indian Wars
59-60, 64-68, 79, 86
Indians
59-63
Ingersol, George.
71
J
Jocelyn, Henry
.46, 51
Jocelyn, John .... 22, 41, 64
Jordan, Dominicus ........ 93
Jordan, Rev. Robert
37, 39, 46, 51, 52, 53,
54, 86
K
Kendall & Whitney
190
Kennebec and Portland
R. R
201
Kennebec Street.
203
King Philip's War
64-67
King's Highway
100
Kotzschmar Organ
232
Page
L
Land Titles ..
.33-40, 70-74
Legislature
186
Levett, Christopher
26-27, 154
Levett's River
27
Library
225, 241
Light Guards
209
Light Infantry
209
Lighthouse
163
Lincoln Public Park
221
Lincoln Street
203
Long, Col. Stephen H
200
Long Creek
64
Longfellow, Stephen
102
Longfellow House
153
Lotteries
117, 164
Louisburg
106-112
Love Lane
99
Loyall, Fort .... 69, 71, 82-84
Lygon, Cicely.
38
Lygonia ...... 38, 39, 50, 51
M
Machegonne
30, 39
Macworth, Arthur
51
Mails
163-64, 190
Main Street
99
Maine Bank
168
Maine Central R. R.
201-202, 237
Maine General Hos-
pital
225, 241
Maine Historical
Society
241
Maine Steamship Co ..... 203
Manufactures ...... 182, 235
March, Major John ...... 90 Martin's Point Bridge .. 165
Page
Mason, Capt. John .....
37-38
Massachusetts Bay
Colony
...
34-36, 39-40,
49-51, 73
Mechanic Blues
209
Meeting House Point .... 99
Middle Street
99, 216
Mill Dam
104
Mills
117-18
Ministers
100
Minute Men .... 132, 136-137
Mitton, Nathaniel
67
Monts, Sieur de.
15, 16
Moody, Major Samuel
90, 91, 101
Moulton, Augustus F ... 228
Moulton, Lieut.
Jeremiah
94
Mount Desert
17
Mowatt, Capt.
136, 137, 139
Munjoy, George.
...
54
Munjoy's Hill
95, 137
N
Name
154
New Casco ........ 87, 89, 102
"New Proprietors"
92
Newspaper
180
Nichols, Richard
56
Non-Intercourse Act
173
Norridgewock
94-95
North Virginia Com-
pany
16
O
Old Casco
87, 92
Owascoag
31
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Page
P
Palatinate Charter
38
Park Commission.
.231
Pearson, Captain
Moses
108
Pejepscot
65
Penobscot and Ken-
nebec R. R.
201
Pepperell, William
108
Phinney, Col.
133
Phipps, Sir William .. 85-86
Pierpont, Jonathan
100
Plymouth, Council.
29
Plymouth Company 16-17, 17-18, 24-25, 26,38
Poor, John A
200, 202
Popham Beach
17
Population
116, 178, 186, 194, 235
Porpoise, Cape.
38
Porter, Seward.
198
Portland and Forest
Avenue Railroad
Co.
.230
Portland and Ogdens-
burg R. R.
202
Portland and Rochester
R. R.
201
Portland Bank
168
Portland Bridge .... 165, 233
Portland Company
204
Portland Gas Light
Co. 204
Portland Gazette
180
Portland Island
154
Portland Railroad
Company
.......
230
Page
Portland, Saco and
Portsmouth Rail-
road
199-200
Portland Sound
154
Portland Steam Packet
:Co.
203
Portland Water Com-
pany
222
Portneuf
81, 82-83
Preble, General.
.137, 139
Preble, Judge
200
Preble, Commodore
Edward
168
Preble, Col. Jedediah .... 108
Preble, Fort.
111, 163
Presumpscot River
43, 54, 104
Pritchard, John
100
Promenades
195-96
Province Charter
.85
"Province of Maine"
38
Purchase, Thomas.
65
Purpooduck
64, 80
Q
Queen Anne's War
86
Queen Street.
99
R
Railroads
198-202
Rale, Father
95
Ram Island Farm
29
Randall, Charles H.
228
Rapid (brig)
174, 176
Revolutionary War
125-51
Richardson Field.
196
Richmond Island
27-28, 53
Page
Rigby, Col. Alexander 45, 51
Rifle Corps
209
Rifle Guards
209
Romeo
149
Round Marsh
99
S
Saccarappa
117
Saco
52, 84
Sagadahoc .... 17, 18, 37, 38
St. Croix
16
St. Paul's Church
141
Sandy Point
164
Saratoga
147
Scammel, Fort
163
Scarboro
103
Scarborough River
31
Schools
102-103
Scottow Fort.
84
Seacomb's Point
164
Sebago Lake
222-23
Senegal
137
Settlements, Early
13-18, 25-32
Sewall (school-
master)
.....
102
Shipping
103, 119, 158, 167-68, 203, 236
Shirley, William .. 107, 113
Simmons, Franklin
242
Slavery
116
Smith, Captain John.
20
Smith, Rev. Thomas
95. 101, 105
South Portland .... 26, 29, 53
Spain in America
14, 15, 23-24
Page
Sprague, P. W.
29
Spring Point, ..
86, 111
Spurwink
28, 39, 42, 43, 44, 52
53,
86
Spurwink River
26
Squando
66.
Stages
190-91
Stamp Act.
128, 130-31
State House
187, 192
State Pier
233
State Street.
217
Statehood
180-86
Steamboats
198
Stevens, Augustus E
221
Stone, Samuel
102
Streets ...
98-99, 228-30
Stroudwater
64, 80, 102, 155
Sugar Act.
130
Sullivan, James
144
Sumner, Fort
162
Symon
66
T
Tacony Affair
212
Thames Street
98
Thompson, Capt.
137
Timber
23,
118
Town House.
141
Trading Stations.
20
Trelawney, Robert
29, 37, 39,42
Trolley Lines.
230-31
Tucker, Richard
29,30
Tukey's Bridge
164
Tyng, Edward .. 72, 108, 109
Tyng, Sheriff
132
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Page
U
United States Bank .. .... 195
V
Valley Forge
148
Vaughan, William
107, 109, 165
Vines, Richard.
.24, 44
IV
Wadsworth, Peleg
149, 153
Wakely, Thomas .......... 65
Waldo, Samuel
105, 108, 130
Walley, John
71
War of 1812.
174-78
Weeks, Oliver
30
Page
Westbrook, Thomas 118, 155
Westbrook
26, 155
Western Promenade.
.196
Wharves
237
Windham
105
Winter, John
29-30, 42-46
Wiswell, Rev.
135, 137
Wood, John M
217
World War
234
Y
Yankee (privateer)
176
York, Benjamin
101
York
27
York (county)
121
York and Cumberland
R. R
201
Yorkshire County
53
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