Biddeford Revealed (In pictures!) (Portland, Lewiston: shops, homeless, renewal)

[corgis]

It looks like a very pretty town to me.

[fxtrader]

Biddeford does have a bad reputation. Whether it is true or not is based on individual experiences and expectations. I have heard it refered to as "skidaford" more than a few times. I have spent a lot of time in Biddeford over the years and will be there this weekend for a birthday party. I find it to be not much different than the other mill towns I have lived in over the years (Milinocket and Westbrook). I like these kind of towns but they are not for everyone. I think a lot of old mill town around New England suffer from the same type of pre concieved identity.

[lrfox]

Good points, fxtrader. I think, however, that many more of the old mill towns (maybe we should say mill cities as there is a big difference between a place like Milinocket and Lawrence, MA) have a reason for this reputation while I have yet to see many serious ones for Biddeford. For example, Lawrence MA has a relatively high crime rate for a city its size, therefore, a reputation for danger and crime is partially deserved.

Biddeford, on the other hand, has a pretty low crime rate. In fact, if you check the statistics on City-data.com, you'll find that its WELL below the national average in terms of crime.

I do think the opinion is based on personal expectations and experiences, but I think in the case of Biddeford, those expectations and experiences are tainted a bit. Biddeford is very different than the typical Maine town. Unlike the mill cities in Southern New England and most of the mill cities in Northern New England, Biddeford is a small urban pocket among much more rural ones (with very few exceptions). It also isn't gentrified in the same way that the the closest urban area is (Portland). Therefore, its extremely different from the mostly rural surroundings and quite frankly, "different" is often scary to many people.

This is just an observation, but I have never lived anywhere where "word of mouth" is taken more seriously than it is here. Almost every day, I hear stuff along the lines of, "I dont go there because my friend said this happened and it's, 'sketchy.'" A single bad incident seems to have longer lingering effects here than it does in other places I've lived as well. If a certain crime happened upwards of 5+ years ago (mind you, a crime that isnt the "norm"), people constantly bring it up. I'm constantly reminded by my girlfriend's mom that 8 years ago, a block away from my apartment someone was non-fatally stabbed. The reality is that its not even close to a dangerous neighborhood, but this one solitary incident that occured almost a decade ago seems to have tainted this one woman's view on the area very negatively.

I think the same happens in Biddeford. It's not the typical Maine town... it's not pristine, quiet, or naturally picturesque (although it does happen to be pretty in its own way). It's off the radar for visitors and its not as lilly-white as many other communities. The difference is that I haven't heard anyone cite a single incident thats happened there. They just say it's a, "tough town" with nothing to support it. It may be called "skidaford" by some, but I have yet to hear of any reason why? It's different, and were in a region where difference is often something that makes people nervous.

[elston]

I am seeing that the psychology of why we like what we like and dislike that which we dislike is highly personal. I will try not to get riled when something I love for my reasons is disparaged by someone else for their own equally subjective reasons.

Mill towns connect me to my Mom who grew up in Lawrence Mass and who died in Biddeford....I connect to it and that which others might look down on endears it to me. She lived in many other places including Eastport and Dexter and Pittsfield in Maine....but Biddeford is more of a link to her life story.

Some of my happiest days of childhood were spent in a tiny little mill town in Northrn Rhode Island.

[mainegirl]

Originally Posted by elston

There is a really good article in the Portland paper this morning about the wild life that lives in the area right around Saco Island......someone who bought a condo started video taping the birds and animals he saw and identifying them from a pair of perrigrine falcons to a variety of hawks to racoons and otter. The article says the videos are availble on Utube....I havent yet gone to check them out....but the article has some really nice photographs. City dweller finds wildlife 'tucked away' | Portland Press Herald

What a nice article and photos ! I am a huge animal lover, I really enjoyed that, thanks for sharing.

[lookinforahome]

I've been researching the history of some of the buildings, so here it goes



This is pretty much like they say on the plaque. Settlers from York to Portland were defended by this fort until it was abandoned in 1708.



The whitish building on the left was the biggest hotel in the area, with 100 rooms, built in 1847.City hall used to be the sight of the Central Block, which was considered the best retail spot in the city. It burned down in 1858.



The population of Greeks had grown enough that they built a church in 1908. In 1955, this one was built.



The white building was built in 1875, known as the "Marble Block."

The police station (don't have a picture, sorry) was the city theater for quite awhile. It was quite an interesting structure. I wish it was still there. There were 16 row homes located right next to the mills, but were demolished to make way for a new part warehouse. Which is a shame because the were beautiful. Apparently, every business in the downtown area had to have awnings over the sidewalk, as a courtesy to shield passersby from the elements. Anyway, that's all I have for you right now.

[elston]

Lookinforahome:

Thank you for the history and the mental visual images ... I love to recreate the feel and pulse of a community by knowing its history and enhanced imagination. You provide the building blocks of appreciation. One can imagine the civic pride as those edifices were built and the archetectural detail created a city of loveliness and grace....one can imagine the hustle and bustle of shoppers walking under the awnings to make their purchases, to see friends and neighbors in town.....I remember my grands and my parents always dressed up a little to go into town....it was an event....social as well as mercantile. Your pictures and history help recreate those scenes and images.

[lrfox]

Thanks for the pictures and history lesson. I enjoy hearing stories like those you told. I sort of wish I grew up 100 years ago so I could experience life without cars when cities (big and small) were the center of life both social and economic. The streets were just as much home to the pedestrians as they were to the vehicles (in those days, horses and buggies as well as street cars). I always think back to what it must have been like back then. I despise the autocentricity of many cities today and those cookie cutter suburbs. I feel that with the emphasis on going "green" and reducing our carbon footprints that our cities are the key. Places like Biddeford will undergo revitalizations that will see life into the core of the city once again. Great stories and photos. I'll have to bring my camera with me one day and contribute some to this thread (if you don't mind).

On an unrelated note, I've always wondered why people take gorgeous buildings (such as the "Marble Block" and the brown one to the left) and add UGLY groundfloor windows and siding? What's the purpose of it? I see it all over New England (it's really bad in parts of Boston). Thankfully, in most cases, it's siding that was added to buildings (while keeping the original facade in tact underneath) to give a more modern look to the building, but I don't get why businesses keep it that way. It should be a crime to cover up the gorgeous facades of grand old buildings with shoddy metal and plastic. >end rant<

Thanks again!

[elston]

Originally Posted by lrfox

On an unrelated note, I've always wondered why people take gorgeous buildings (such as the "Marble Block" and the brown one to the left) and add UGLY groundfloor windows and siding? What's the purpose of it? I see it all over New England (it's really bad in parts of Boston). Thankfully, in most cases, it's siding that was added to buildings (while keeping the original facade in tact underneath) to give a more modern look to the building, but I don't get why businesses keep it that way. It should be a crime to cover up the gorgeous facades of grand old buildings with shoddy metal and plastic. >end rant<

Thanks again!

Rant on; I couldnt agree more. I get a crook in my neck looking up at beautiful second and story stone and brick buildings admiring the workmanship and beauty that survives above the crappola that some business put over the street level to look modern.....hopefully someday those buildings will be restored to their original grace.

[lrfox]

I know exactly what you mean. For some reason this happens way too much. I've noticed it in the example you mentioned of Concord, NH, but I've seen it in prime Boston real estate (Downtown Crossing, Kenmore Square and MANY others) as well as in coastal jewels like Newport RI. Portland and Portsmouth NH seem to to a great job of combatting that though. It's a shame and I can't believe owners of those buildings don't realize the value of what's just underneath the horrid exterior.