Southern Maine Coast Region
Visiting Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Saco, and Biddeford Bicentennial Homes and Places
Tour Highlights
This tour shares pre-statehood homes and a few other structures of the southern coast of Maine, traveling southwest from Cape Elizabeth to Biddeford.
Getting Started
This tour starts at 12 Captain Strout Circle in Cape Elizabeth. The tour route is approximately 30 miles and will take roughly 2 to 3 hours.
- Each tour stop on the map's address is linked to Google Maps so you can swiftly navigate from location-to-location if you choose Google for mapping. You can also use the address in your car's navigation system.
Be safe and aware of your surroundings whilst driving.
- Many properties on the tour are private places; be respectful of private property and remain on the public way at all times.
Click here to access a printable version of this tour.
Except as otherwise noted in the tour, the source for information about the properties has been gathered from each one’s National Register of Historic Places nomination.
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1
Portland Headlight
Built ca. 1790
Portland Headlight is one of four lighthouses whose construction was authorized by then-president George Washington. This lighthouse has never been rebuilt and the main tower exists in a similar fashion as it did over 200 years ago. It was built by two local masons, John Nichols and Johnathan Bryant.
Interestingly, the main tower was shortened by about 41 feet during the mid to late 19th century, however, due to public outcry, it was later raised back. Portland Headlight remains one of Maine's most treasured landmarks and continuous to be one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Northeast coast. Visit the lighthouse's website .
2
Dyer-Hutchinson Farm
Built ca. 1790, Federal Cape
This rural and historic farm property dates from about 1790 and is one of the few 18th-century farms left in the area. According to local records, William Dyer began to assemble the homestead parcel in the 1790s, including the construction of the house. Additional land parcels were acquired over the course of the next three decades.
In 1864 the Dyers sold the farm to Louisa A. Bennett, and in 1875 it was acquired by Edwin Hutchinson. The Hutchinsons erected the existing box mill in the early 20th century, which was operated at a scale well beyond that needed only for home use.
Today the Dyer-Hutchinson Farm functions to cultivate Christmas trees and is now known as The Old Farm Christmas Place. Visit their website . The property is also an easement holding of Maine Preservation.
3
Spurwink Congregational Church
Built ca. 1802 with alterations in 1830, Vernacular
Formed as a branch of the second parish of South Portland, the Spurwink Congregational Church is one of Cape Elizabeth's oldest buildings and was active up until 1957. Although rebuilt in the 1830s with significant alterations to the original structure, it remains true to its original rectangular wood frame, gable roof, and clapboard siding.
Built to accomodate an enlarging congregation, the church became independent in 1935 after being associated with the First Congregational Church of South Portland for 133 years.
4
Richard Hunniwell House
Built ca. 1702-3, Cape
The Richard Hunniwell House (also known as Hunnewell House), a low posted Cape Cod style structure, is one of Maine's oldest surviving houses from the early 18th century, a survivor of the period of resettlement after the depopulation of most of southern Maine due to Native American depredations.
During the 1680s, Hunniwell's wife and daughter lost their lives in a raid, and Hunniwell, along with the rest of the town, was forced to relocate. The town was reestablished around 1702 and Hunniwell returned and built this house, but just a year later he was killed in another raid. The Hunniwell house is a living piece of Maine's early, pre-statehood history.
5
Captain Solomon Coit House
Built ca. 1785-87, with portico, foundation and roof changes, ca. 1870, Georgian/Federal transitional
The Captain Solomon Colt House is a late Georgian/Federal period home with a center hall plan. The home is considered the best, surviving, example of Georgian architecture in Saco and was constructed by master builder William Pepperrell Moody for Captain Solomon Coit, an "eminent shipmaster" whose ships carried merchandise from New England to Europe and even as far away as China.
It is a contributing structure to the Saco Historic District. View the district's National Register listing .
6
Steven Sawyer House
Built ca. 1807, Federal
The Stephen Sawyer House is a Federal, two-story residence with its original cornice and fan lit entrance. The side porch was added after 1905. The home is believed to have been built by master builder Bradbury Johnson who resided in Saco from 1801 through 1816.
It is a contributing structure to the Saco Historic District. View the district's National Register listing .
7
Joseph Leland House (Thornton Hall)
Built ca. 1801-3, Federal
The Joseph Leland House is a two-and-one-half frame Federal period structure built by Bradbury Johnson with Benjamin Simpson as a mason. The home was altered with the removal of the belt courses between floors and the enclosing of the roof cornice during the application of aluminum siding. The flanking ells have been reduced in size and the original carriage house has been lost. The house was converted into Thornton Hall in the early 20th century.
It is a contributing structure to the Saco Historic District. View the district's National Register listing .
8
Leland-Locke House
Built ca. 1820 with alterations in 1887, Federal
The Leland-Locke House is a two-and-one-half story brick building with a Colonial-Revival portico protecting an exceptional fan and side lit entrance door. An attached barn was added in 1887 and the dining room was redesigned by William Barry in 1915.
The home was built for Joseph Leland, a merchant, as his second home. His first home, the Joseph Leland House was built at 331 Main Street.
It is a contributing structure to the Saco Historic District. View the district's National Register listing .
9
First Parish Meetinghouse
Built ca. 1758, Vernacular
The First Parish Meetinghouse in Biddeford was built by Nathaniel Perkins and is the oldest building in the city and among the oldest meeting houses in Maine.
On December 22nd, 1774, in a meeting at the First Parish Meetinghouse in Biddeford, the American Revolutionary leader James Sullivan (who was well acquainted with George Washington, John, and Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere, among others) was elected as a delegate to the provincial congress. During the war years of 1780-178, many meetings in support of the War of Independence and the Continental Army were held here. Sullivan was also close friends with the parish's first minister, Moses Morrill. Additionally, Maine's first and only hearsay trial occurred here on May 2nd, 1793.
The meetinghouse is currently owned by the Biddeford Historical Society. Visit their website .