New at Old York
Take a walk back in time
This is an example of one of the many images of Victorian York Beach that will be available for viewing during this summer’s walking tours. Can you identify this building? Does it still exist? These questions and more will be answered!
Photo courtesy of OYHS
YORK BEACH - This summer Old York Historical Society is offering walking tours of York Beach in the Victorian Era.
The tours feature architectural and cultural changes that have taken place since the late 19th century and guides will illustrate those changes with historic photographs from the Old York Historical Society collections.
York Beach is considered a later development in town history. With the industrialization the later half of the 19th century came an influx of disposable income, especially among factory owners and management.
By the early part of the 20th century, working class families began to experience an increase in disposable income as well. Along with additional income came the desire to escape the cityscape and retreat to areas offering healthy saltwater, clean air, entertainment and amenities - a desire that sparked the development of many of America's seaside resort towns, including York Beach.
York Beach became the destination for families from as far away as Philadelphia and New York and as close as Concord and Dover, N.H. While the more affluent visitors settled in York Harbor, York Beach became a hub for working-class families to vacation.
Want to learn about this special part of town? Old York's tours, which are designed to be both fun and informative, last about one hour and are set to begin this week.
Tours will be offered on July 12 and Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. and on July 26 and Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, however the tours are free to Old York members. Participants are asked to meet at the Gazebo in Ellis Park at Short Sands Beach. For more, visit http://www.oldyork.org/
