Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources SECTION 6: HISTORICAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL RESOURCES “What do high-paying jobs, billions in private investment, and historic buildings have in common? Together, they are revitalizing communities all across America.” - National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a Subsidiary of National Trust for Historic Preservation. 1. Statement of State and Local Goals. A. State Goals: 1. To preserve the State’s historical and archaeological resources. B. Local Goals: For Discussion: Goal from the 1999 Comprehensive Plan: GOAL: To protect our historical and archeological resources. For consideration… 1. To preserve the City of Biddeford’s historical, archaeological, and cultural resources. 2. To provide assistance to citizens, property owners, and developers in preserving historical, archaeological, and cultural resources. 3. To enhance the local creative economy through the promotion of local arts and culture. 4. To ensure that existing and future cultural facilities and events support the needs of the people of Biddeford. 2. What is happening? (Conditions and Trends) A. History: The following chronological history of Biddeford is taken from various sources, including the Biddeford Comprehensive Plan of 1999. Other sources include: • McArthur Library. An Introduction to Biddeford’s History. 1944 McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, ME. 6-1 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources • Butler, Charles, L., Jr. Images of America: Biddeford. 2003. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub. • Downs, Jacques. The Cities on the Saco. C.1985. Norfolk, VA: Donning Co. • Wingate, Thomas J. Marginalia, 1849-1870’s from his copy of George Folsom’s History of Saco and Biddeford. 1830. Transcribed and annotated by Roy P/Fairfield, May 1999. • Conference on the French in New England, Acadia, and Quebec. The French in New England, Acadia, and Quebec. NEAPQ Center, UMO, various authors. • Robinson, David and Elizabeth Tanefis. Postcard History Series, The Saco River. 2010. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub. • Yorke, Dane. A History and Stories of Biddeford. 1994 (Reprinted). McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, ME. Pre 1600's: A local tribe inhabits the west bank around the mouth of the Saco River. 1603: The first recorded European visit to the Saco is by 23 year old Bristol Captain Martin Pring, who sails into the river looking for sassafras and upon finding none, leaves the area. July 1605: The French explorer Samuel de Champlain drops anchor in the river "Chouacoet" (pronounced "Shwaco") and notes the existence of a sizable Armouchiquois Indian village on the heights behind Jordan Point where the University of New England is now located. His map also indicates that today's Biddeford Pool has not been formed1. 1606: Pring returns and records the river's name "Shawakatoc", his rendering of the Indian title “Chouacoet”. 1607: The Sokoki village on the “Chouacoet” is burned by Indians from the north. 1616-1617: Captain Richard Vines, agent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges of the Plymouth Company, spends the winter with 32 men on Leighton's Point at Biddeford Pool in 6 cabins. For this reason the area is called "Winter Harbor" for the next 150 years. 1626: There are four permanent settlers according to Court records. June 1630: Vines secures a patent from Gorges (who has gained personal title to the "Province of Maine") for a piece of land extending from Cape Porpoise to 1 See Page X below for more information about the “Chauacoet Site”. 6-2 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources the Saco River and stretching from the coast “eight miles upriver”, which includes today's Biddeford. The terms of the patent includes settling the area with immigrants and establishing trade. They traded fish, lumber and produce for salt marsh hay, corn, and livestock. Trade was with the Massachusetts Bay Colony of England, providing a good, solid economy. 1653: The Province of Maine is seized and annexed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1653: The first two sawmills on the Saco are licensed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1653: The "King's Highway" is built from Kittery to Falmouth. 1664: The Saco Region is returned to the grandson of Ferdinando Gorges. 1665: Massachussetts Bay Colony’s authority over the Province of Maine is dissolved by King Charles II, thereby reestablishing Maine’s independence. 1675: Drunken English seamen came upon an Abenaki (Sokoki) tribeswoman in a canoe on the Saco River. They decided to try to test the theory that Native American children are born with the animal instinct to swim by either grabbing the baby and throwing it into the River or intentionally overturning the canoe. The child died afterwards. The seamen did not know that the woman was the wife of the Abenaki tribes chief, Squando. It is rumored that following this event Squando entered the Saco Rive and cursed the waters saying “three white men will die on the river every year”. The Abenaki responded by joining the first Indian conflict (King Phillip's War), from which they had previously refrained, by making several attacks on Winter Harbor. It is said that this incident brought on 30 years of Indian warfare in Maine. 1675-1713: The settlements at Winter Harbor and around the mouth of the Saco are embroiled in the second and third Indian Wars. Indian power wanes with end of the third war in 1713. 1677: When the Massachusetts Bay Colony threatens to retake control in 1678, Gorges sells the patent (to Massachussetts) before it is seized. 1688: Biddeford settlers are wiped out by Native Americans. 1718: Saco Valley settlements adopt the name of Biddeford, which was applied 6-3 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources to the entire area from Arundel (Kennebunkport) to Scarborough. The name came from Biddeford (sic), Devonshire, England where many of the early settlers originated. 1720: The First Parish Congregational Church was organized. 1750: A fourth ferry is licensed at the falls. 1759: At the time of his death, William Pepperell of Kittery holds title to one- fifth of all land on the west (Biddeford) side of the river. The Pepperell family will continue to influence the area through the present day. 1760: Court begins to sit in Biddeford in the fall. 1762: The east side of the river implements its own government and is called Pepperellborough (later to be called Saco). Pepperellborough has a population of 540; Biddeford bas a population of 629. 1762: The first bridge is built with the proceeds of a public drawing and spans the river from Saco to Indian Island (now Factory Island). 1767 Thomas Cutts builds a toll bridge from Cutts’ Island (formerly Indian Island), to Biddeford. Cutts uses his strategic position and as a ship owner, a merchant, a lumber mill operator and ship builder, becomes the wealthiest man in town. 1787: The first mail arrives by wagon. 1789: A Post Office is established in Biddeford. Early 1790’s: Captain Seth Spring and Captain Moses Bradbury begin building on Spring's Island at the falls, rivaling Cutts’ Island. 1794: A sawmill is put up on Spring’s Island. 1796: Biddeford’s second church is built – the Meetinghouse on Crescent Street. 1805: Pepperellborough is legally renamed Saco. 1811: An iron works is put up on Cutts’ Island by Cutts and Bostonian Josiah Calef. 6-4 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources 1820's: The village at the falls (“Falls Village”) has upwards of seventeen (17) lumber mills, at least two (2) grist mills, other shops, warehouses, docks and services. Except for the shipyards at Biddeford Pool, the center of activity is on Spring’s Island and Cutts’ Islands in Saco. 1825: The property and mills on Cutts' Island are sold to Josiah Calef who helps form the Saco Manufacturing Company. By 1826, they have constructed the largest cotton mill in America, which does not begin production until 1829, bringing them into heavy debt. The final disaster strikes in 1830 when the Saco Manufacturing mill burns. 1825: A 60-foot tall stone tower was built on Stage Island as a government navigation marker. 1830: The combined population of Biddeford and Saco is 5,213, with more than three fifths of it in Saco. 1831: Massachusetts investors buy Cutts' Island and the mill remnants and form York Manufacturing Company. 1837: The Board of Directors of York Manufacturing sets up the Saco Water Power Company to supply their mills with power. 1839: York Manufacturing Company is operating three mills with 1000 employees. The Saco Water Company is operating "separately" but generally in tandem with York Manufacturing. 1840's: Two new related mill companies are formed: Laconia Company and Pepperell Manufacturing Company. These will dominate the economy of the two towns for the next century. 1840: Six underground tunnels are built which carry water to the Lincoln Street mill. 1842: The first railroad engine comes into town on the new Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad. 1845: Israel Shevenell, Biddeford’s first permanent French-Canadian settler, arrives on foot from Canada. 1847-1855: The rapid growth of Roman-Catholic Irish immigrants from Boston and Newburyport begins replacing the traditional "farm girl" labor. Dormitories and boarding houses are replaced with tenements. 6-5 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources Between 1850 and 1860 the population in Saco grows by 429 while the population in Biddeford grows by 3,245. By 1850 Biddeford was the largest town in York County. 1848: The first Biddeford High School is built on Washington Street. 1848: The fire company was started. 1850: The first telegraph office comes to Biddeford. 1854: Gas streets lights are installed. 1855: Biddeford gets city status to defeat the exasperations of the old town meeting process. Daniel Eton Somes is elected the first mayor of Biddeford. Sommes came from New Hampshire and started a newspaper and varnish factory. He built the Sommesville neighborhood in Saco and the first Sommesville bridge connecting that neighborhood to Spring’s Island in Biddeford.