December 3, 1881 Headed by Ebenezer C. Staples, long considered to be the father of the Summer Tourist Industry in Old Orchard, a group of citizens presented a petition containing 110 names to the Saco City Council beginning the secession proceedings that would eventually set-off Old Orchard from Saco. Saco’s mayor, Oliver Clark, and members of the City Council appeared to only go through the motions of attempting to head off the bid to split off from the mother city. An official announcement from Saco read: We caused tabulations to be made showing the amounts received from that part of the city and the amounts expended there and on account of it, and presented the same to the committee, with other evidence touching our relations with them. These show that larger amounts were expended for them than received from them, and that all had been done in that locality that could be reasonably expected in view of their and our situation. It being apparent that it was for our financial interest that they should be allowed to organize as a new town, and the petitioners representing that they could manage their affairs more to their liking than the city government thought it wise to do, a bill was reported for their organizations as a new town, in which the rights and interests of the city are believed to be fully secured. Ocean Park had obtained its freedom just a year earlier, but with the set-off in 1883, the Baptist community became a part of Old Orchard. Ironically, Ocean Park tried in 1889 to return to Saco, claiming that they were being ignored by way of municipal improvements. More astute scholars at the time believed, however, that the Baptist stronghold wanted nothing to do with “the wicked section of Old Orchard.” Ocean Park lost a legislative decision that would have allowed them to return to Saco stating that Old Orchard had done what was requested of them by means of improvements and police and fire protection. The petition signed by property owners in Ocean Park was presented to the Maine State Legislature asking that the summer resort be returned to the city of Saco; The undersigned residents and owners of property in that part of the town of Old Orchard, Maine, known as Ocean Park, respectfully request that all that part of said town of Old Orchard lying southerly of the following described line, to wit; Commencing at the center of Goose Fair Brook, so called, on the dividing line between the city of Saco and the town of Old Orchard, on the northerly side line to the road leading from the city of Saco to Ocean Park (said road being an extension of Temple Avenue); thence running southeasterly by the northeast side of said road to the Boston & Maine Railroad; thence easterly by said Boston & Maine Railroad 2,360 feet to Tunis Avenue; in the same direction of said avenue to the ocean at low water mark, with the inhabitants, thereof, be set off from the said town of Old Orchard and annexed to the city of Saco. Hiram Knowlton Oren B. Cheney B. C. Jordan C. A. Milliken J. M. Webb James Walker Edward E. Davis November 21, A. D. 1898 The promoters of the annexation scheme were well known throughout the state, and when they appeared before the legislature it was felt that the group’s plan would be given great consideration. However, while the claims that Ocean Park’s property owners and summer residents paid hefty taxes to Old Orchard with little in the way of municipal services received in return, their plan was turned down by law-makers and Ocean Park remained a part of Old Orchard—some $1,700 in taxes, divided amongst 125 property owners—continued to be paid to the resort community.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:00:47 +0000