York Town News
Cape Neddick: 100 Years Ago
By Alexandra Hayford, Girl Scout Troop 810
CAPE NEDDICK - I recently worked with my Girl Scout troop on an historical exhibit of Cape Neddick from 100 years ago.The exhibit of rural Cape Neddick is currently being displayed in the sales office of the Decorator Show House, "Hillside Cottage."
Girl Scout Troop 810 has created a special exhibit of Cape Neddick's past in an effort to earn the Girl Scout Leadership Award. The other troop members are Lauren Segalla, Mary Val Buckless, Carlena Smith, Colleen Buckless and Molly McCarthy.
"I learned a lot about the Cape Neddick area," said Mary Val Buckless. "I never knew all of the things that happened here. I love to look at the old pictures and seeing what the town of York looked like at that time."
I want to share some of the early photos and the history of Cape Neddick. I thought our local community and tourists would be interested in seeing the early pictures.
"I was happy to see all of the history of Cape Neddick, especially the Passaconaway Inn and Cragmere," said Colleen Buckless. "I didn't know that a lot of these historical places even existed. It was also interesting that we talked about the fact that my personal ancestry used to reside in York as early as the 1600s. This project helped me to understand our local history better."
I am also astounded at how little Cape Neddick has changed and how we have been able to maintain the natural landscape and beauty.
"I became responsible for what I said and did when I devoted my time and attention to the historical exhibit," said Carlena Smith. "When I decided to get involved in the project, I knew that I had to do excellent work and that people were counting on me. This project also encouraged me to share my personal history and the history of my town with others."
If you asked what I learned from the project, it would be that the old pictures heightened my perspective of Cape Neddick's past and we are, in a way, the same people.
I look at the expressions on their faces in these old photos. They're from a different generation, walking on the same beach that we are walking on today. It's amazing to think these people lived 100 years ago and have now passed away but the familiar places and historic homes still appear much the same way today.
I hope that the next generation can still see these special places in their natural beauty and we continue to preserve them forever.
Following are a couple of my favorite pictures from our exhibit.
Cape Neddick Beach, Circa early 1900s, Old York Historical Society Collection
Cape Neddick Beach, Circa early 1900s, Old York Historical Society Collection.
Courtesy photo
This is a still-life advertisement of Mrs. Lee, owner of Sunset Hill, posing in front of the Passaconaway Inn on Cape Neddick Beach.
Since I live in Cape Neddick and often swim at this beach, I find it hard to believe that this magical, castle-like hotel towered over my local beach.
I discovered that the Passaconaway Inn did not succeed because of the Great Depression and it was torn down in 1937.
Cape Neddick Beach, circa 1915, Old York Historical Society Collection
Cape Neddick Beach, circa 1915, Old York Historical Society Collection.
Courtesy photo
These swimsuits were made of heavy wool or flannel.
When someone went swimming, the bathing suits weighed as much as 15 pounds. It made swimming very difficult, but most people didn't swim anyway. Some bathers wouldn't put their heads under water because they thought it was unhealthy.
Lake Caroline, Circa 1920, Old York Historical Society Collection
I found this picture really interesting of Lake Caroline since I can see the little lake from my house.
Lake Caroline, Circa 1920, Old York Historical Society Collection.
Courtesy photo
This is a picture of an ice house that kept ice cool in the summer for York Hospital. The hospital used the ice to cool oxygen tents and the farmers also used the ice for delivering products safely.
When we bought our house, we received a map dated 1893 of the York Cliffs Improvement Company and our lot and the ice house were on the map.
Unfortunately, there isn't a single remnant of the ice house on the lake.
There are many more interesting photos and postcards to discover from our exhibit in the sales office of the Decorator Show House.
I hope you'll take the time to see some of Cape Neddick's early history.
The Show House and the exhibit remain open this Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year's Show House closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12. The last ticket is sold one half hour before closing.
Admission is $20 at the door and all proceeds benefit the Museums of Old York and its education programs.
If anyone has additional historical information, especially photos of Cape Neddick, please write to Girl Scout Troop 810 at hayfordd@juno.com.
