History of Biddeford, Maine, USA

Physician Richard Vines established what is possibly the earliest settlement in Maine in 1616 at Biddeford Pool, then known as Winter Harbor.
Vines spent the winter of 1616-17 there, having been sent by Sir. Fernando Gorges. He and John Oldham returned in 1630, settling on the side of the river now occupied by Biddeford; in 1631 others arrived and settled on the east, or Saco, side.
http://maineanencyclopedia.com/biddeford/

1839 - Biddeford
Biddeford, Maine
York county. On the S. side of Saco river, and connected with the town of Saco by a bridge. The town extends down the river to the sea, and includes a point of land called "Fletcher's Neck," off which are several small islands; on one of which, Wood Island, is a revolving light. This is a good township for agricultural pursuits, and coasting trade, ship building, and the fishery. It lies 38 miles N.E. from York, 15 S.W. from Portland and 69 S.W. from Augusta. First permanently settled, 1630. Incorporated, 1718. Population, 1837, 2,278. See Saco.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1854 - Biddeford
Biddeford, a post-township of York county, Maine, on the S. side of Saco river, about 20 miles S. W. by S. from Portland. (For a description of the town of Biddeford, see Saco.) Population, 6095.

Saco, a thriving post-town and port of entry of York county, Maine, on the E. or left bank of the Saco river, about 6 miles from its mouth, and on the Eastern railroad, 13 miles S. W. from Portland. The industry of this place and of Biddeford, a flourishing village on the opposite side of the river, is chiefly directed to the lumber trade and to cotton manufactures, each of which employs a large amount of capital. A fall of about 42 feet in the Saco river, here furnishes excellent water-power, which is extensively used for sawing and driving machinery. There are now 10 large cotton mills in operation at these falls - 5 on the Saco and 5 on the Biddeford side - containing about 55,000 spindles and 2800 looms. The York Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1831, have a capital of... Read MORE...

1868 - Squaring the Circle
Mr. Joseph Sweetsir, of Biddeford, Me., claims to have discovered a method of squaring the circle, a problem which has baffled all mathematicians. Mr. Sweetsir will soon publish an explanation of the matter.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
August 8, 1868

1870 - Bad Advertisment
The Biddeford (Me.) woman who advertised for and married a man last July, to have some one to control her property, has succeeded beyond all reasonable expectations, as the fellow has run off with ten thousand dollars of it, and she finds has two wives beside herself.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 26, 1870

1886 - Biddeford
Biddeford, in York County, includes the site of the earliest permanent settlement in Maine of which we have a conclusive record. In furtherance of Sir Ferdinando Gorges’ plans of settlement, Richard Vines, a physician, passed the winter of 1616—17 at a place at the mouth of the Saco which he called Winter Harbor. Vines performed several voyages for Gorges, and appears to have made this a place of usual resort. The first dwellings were built on the north side of the Pool. Old cellars covered with ancient shrubbery, and partly filled well-cavities until a recent time, told of its early occupancy. Apple trees decayed with age, and the English cherry, dispute the place with oak and sum ach. In describing the boundary of an estate here in 1642, “Church Point” is one of the landmarks referred to,—from which inference is made that it was then or had been the site of a church. Rev. Richard Gibson, resiaing on this coast, appeared in a suit-at-law in 1636. Between 1660 and 1666 a meeting-house ... Read MORE...

1888 - Railroad Ticket Office Burglarized
BIDDEFORD, Me., Nov. 24. - Thursday night burglars broke into the Boston & Maine railroad ticket office at Pine Point, blew open the safe and secured the week's wages of the station men and section hands. The agent admits that the loss is considerable, but declines to state the amount. The explosion shattered the windows and demolished the partitions.
The Daily City News
New Castle, Pennsylvania
November 24, 1888

1895 - Biddeford / Biddeford Pool
"Bid'deford, a city of York co., Me, on the right bank of the Saco River, which separates it from the town of Saco, 6 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, 15 miles S.W. of Portland, and 93 miles N.N.E. of Boston. It is on the Portsmouth, Saco & Portland and Boston & Maine Rail roads, each of which connects it with Boston and Portland. Its prosperity is derived chiefly from trade, and manufactures of cotton goods and machinery. Lumber and cotton goods are the chief articles of export. It has 12 churches, 2 national banks, 3 daily and 3 weekly newspapers, and several large cotton-mills, machine-shops, and saw-mills. The river here falls 42 feet, and affords abundant water power. Pop. in 1890, 14,443."

"Biddeford Pool, a post-village and bathing place of York co., Me., on the coast, 6 miles S.E, of Biddeford."
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906 - OPERATE DESPITE FIRE. Umbrellas Held Over Patient In a Maine Burning Hospital.
BIDDEFORD, Me., March 14 - Seventeen patients at the Trull Hospital in May Street, this city, were removed from their beds today during a fire which destroyed a portion of the building, and the surgeons at the hospital completed an operation upon a female patient while the firemen were at work and while umbrellas were held over the operating table to ward off the water which was leaking into the operating room from the upper part of the building.

The fire, which was confined to two upper floors of the hospital, caused a loss of $15,000.

It was found possible to fit up the street floor of the hospital to accommodate all the patients.
The New York Times
New York, New York
March 15, 1906

1908 - LOSS IS $300,000. SCORE OF TENEMENT BUILDINGS AT SACO, DESTROYED. FIRE SWEPT OVER 15 ACRES OF LUMBER YARDS -- BLAZE STARTED IN A PILE OF SHAVINGS -- PORTION OF THE SOMERSVILLE BRIDGE WAS BURNED.
Biddeford, Me., Sept. 15. - A spectacular fire which caused a property loss of $300,000 destroyed more than fifteen acres of lumber yards, more than a score of tenement buildings, several factories and some railroad property early today on both sides of the Saco river in the cities of Saco and Biddeford. A brisk wind fanned a small fire in a pile of shavings in the lumber yard of GEORGE A. CROSSMAN & Sons on the Saco side until it reached extensive proportions, destroying a million feet of lumber in the CROSSMAN yards and the box factory of the concern before it communicated to a small tenement district. The tinder-like formation of the roof of these houses was swept by the wind across the Saco river, alighting upon the extensive lumber yards of the Diamond Match Co. which were eventually destroyed despite the combined efforts of a bucket brigade and the fire departments of both Biddeford and Saco.

On the Biddeford side of the river after devastating the Diamong Match Co.'s lumber... Read MORE...

1916
Bid'deford, a city and summer-resort of York co., Me., on the right bank of the Saco River, which separates it from the town of Saco, 6 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Boston and Maine R., 15 miles SW. of Portland. It has large cotton- and woollen-mills, machine- shops, saw-mills, etc. The river here falls 42 feet and affords abundant water-power. Pop. in 1890, 14,443 ; in 1900, 16,145.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1947 - Biddeford devastated by the Great Fires of 1947
After a wet spring, in which the months of April, May and June were inundated with rainy weather, the climate turned to drought condition in mid July 1947. By the end of September, the ground was extremely dry...

Reports of small fires in woods began coming into the Forest Service on October 7. These early fires burned in Portland, Bowdoin and Wells. Being 30 miles (48 km) apart from each other, these three fires illustrated the danger. After this, reports of fires poured in, and by October 16, 20 separate fires were burning in the state...

Fires began in the towns of Shapleigh and Waterboro, destroying both communities, including,with only a few exceptions,most homes. The fires swept through the forests, and moved with the wind toward the ocean. In addition to Waterboro and Shapleigh, the towns of Alfred, Lyman, Newfield, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, North Kennebunkport (now Arundel), Dayton, Wells, and the cities of Biddeford and Saco were devastated by fire. With the exception... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Biddeford:
Biddeford Pool: This is a beautiful coastal community with a sandy beach and serene waters. It's perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or taking a leisurely stroll along the shore. You can also visit the Biddeford Pool Yacht Club for a taste of the local sailing culture.

Fortune's Rocks Beach: Another fantastic beach spot in Biddeford, Fortune's Rocks Beach offers stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere. It's an ideal spot for beachcombing and picnicking.

Eastern Trail: This scenic trail is perfect for biking, jogging, or just taking a leisurely walk. It spans 65 miles and offers picturesque views of the coast and lush woodlands.

Biddeford Mills Museum: Explore the town's industrial history at the Biddeford Mills Museum. You can learn about the textile industry that once thrived here and see how it shaped the community.

Wood Island Lighthouse: Take a boat tour to Wood Island Lighthouse and learn about its history. The views from the island are spectacular, and it's a great... Read MORE...