History of Scarborough, Maine, USA

1839 - Scarborough
Scarborough, Maine
Cumberland county. This town lies 105 miles N.E. from Boston and 60 S.W. from Augusta. It contains 30,634 acres of land, and a population of 2,244.

A part of this town, called Black point, lying upon the sea, was granted by the council of Plymouth to Thomas Cammock in 1631; this was soon after settled, and became of considerable importance on the coast in the fisheries and trade. The land is held under that ancient grant at the present day. Another settlement was early made by a family of Algers, from England, near the centre of the town, and called Dunstan corner, which name it still bears. This was wholly destroyed in the Indian war of 1675. It was, however, revived by a descendant in the female line, through whom that race is still perpetuated.

Scarborough is principally an agricultural town, for which purpose it furnishes some rich soil, and has a large quantity of salt marsh.—Ship building, however, continues to be pursued here, although not to the... Read MORE...

1854 - Scarborough
Scarborough, a post-village in Cumberland co., Maine, on the Portland, Saco, and Portsmouth railroad, 60 miles S. W. from Augusta. Population of the township, 1837.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1886 - Scarborough
Scarborough is the most southerly town of Cumberland County, having its entire eastern width on Spurwink River and on the sea. Cape Elizabeth lies on the east, Westbrook and Gorham on the north, the latter and Buxton on the north-west, and Saco on the southeast. The form of the town is nearly square, but is longest from north-west to south-east. Libby’s Neck is a broadening point which extends into the sea. On the outer north-eastern side begins Scarborough Beach, about 2 miles in length. Higgin’s Beech succeeds, and continues with one projection to Spurwink River. On the land, or western side of the Neck is a small harbor. Above are Pine Point and Ferry Rock, nearly enclosing from the sea a considerable basin into which are discharged the waters of the several streams of the town. These are Libby’s River, which is little more than a salt water creek, running parallel with the shore from the east; the Nonesuch River, rising in the north-western part of the town, and running almost to... Read MORE...

1891 - INJURED IN A RAILROAD COLLISION
PORTLAND, Me., Jan. 22. - The local train leaving Portland at 10:25 this morning for Biddeford on the Western Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad was run into in the rear by a wild engine from Portland at Scarborough Beach station. There was a dense fog, and the engineer of the wild engine saw neither the train nor the signals. Five persons were more or less injured. Those hurt the most are W. H. SWASEY, Baggage-master; FAIRFIELD TUTTLE, Car Inspector, and C. E. FOSTER, fireman of the wild engine. The baggage car was on the rear of the train, and this was badly smashed. The passengers were frightened and shaken up, and two, women, whose names are not known, were slightly injured. The three men hurt were brought here and taken to the Maine General Hospital.
The New York Times
New York, New York
January 23, 1891

1895 - Scarborough
Scarborough, a post-township of Cumberland co., Me. It is intersected by the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth and Boston & Maine Railroads, is bounded on the S.E. by the Atlantic Ocean, and contains a summer resort called Scarborough Beach or Oak Hill, and Dunston. Pop. 1847. Scarborough Post-Office is at Dunston.
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
Scarboro, a post-township (town) of Cumberland co., Me., on the Boston and Maine R., 8 miles (direct) SW. of Portland. Pop. in 1900, 1865.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1947 - $50,000 Fire Destroys Danish Village Building
125 Routed As Recreation Hall Burns; Stored Furniture Worth Thousands Lost

Scarborough, May 15. (Thursday)- A spectacular general alarm fire which started late Wednesday night swept through the recreation building of Danish Village, former deluxe tourist camp and present housing project, causing damage estimated at $50,000 to the building and additional thousands to a quantity of stored furniture.

At press time today Scarborough firemen had the stubborn, smoky blaze under control, but not before the rear roof and wall sections had collapsed.

More than three-score volunteer firemen from the six Scarborough companies prevented the flames from spreading to the 39 apartments occupied by approximately 125 persons.

The fire had gained considerable headway when it was discovered by Miss Jacqueline Cole of Portland a passenger in an automobile on Route 1.

Starts In Boiler Room
Assistant Fire Chief Henry E. Goold said that the fire apparently started in the boiler room of the... Read MORE...

There are plenty of great places to go and things to do in Scarborough. Here's a list of some of the best attractions and activities in the town:
Scarborough Beach State Park: This is the crown jewel of Scarborough. The park features a beautiful sandy beach that's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. There are also hiking trails that offer stunning views of the coastline, and in the winter, you can go cross-country skiing.

Ferry Beach State Park: Another fantastic beach option, Ferry Beach State Park is known for its tranquil atmosphere and scenic walking trails. It's a great spot for birdwatching and exploring the tidal pools.

Higgins Beach: If you're a surfer or just looking for a less crowded beach experience, Higgins Beach is a local favorite. It's known for its great waves and relaxed vibe.

Scarborough Marsh: This is the largest saltwater marsh in Maine and offers excellent opportunities for kayaking and birdwatching. You can rent kayaks and explore the tidal waterways and observe various bird species.

Eastern Trail: If you enjoy biking or walking, the Eastern Trail is a 65-mile-long scenic trail... Read MORE...