The Portland daily press., 1889-04-18
PORTLAND AS A SEASIDE RESORT.
Why the Summer Hotels Didn't Pros
per Last Season.
The Outlook at Old Orchard for a
Profitable Year.
what Proprietor Staples Of the Sea
shore House Says About II.

The superior advantages and eonveniences
that make Portland and vicinity attractive
as a summer resort to all who prefer to lin
ger during the hot summer months on the
sea shore, are becoming each year more and
more familiar TO the hosts Of tourists who
visit Maine every summer TO spend few
weeks where the scenery and aceommoda-
tions please them most. They are beginning
to appreciate the charming scenery, the
healthfulness Of the location and the other
things that actually make the numerous ISL
ands in Casco Bay, and the coast between
Mallets Park, FIeepoTt and Blddeford Pool
by lar the most desirable summer resort on
the coast. Falmouth Foreslde, the islands.
Cape Elizabeth, Prout's Neck, Scarboro
Beach, Pine Point and Old Orchard. situated
ON the east and west Of Portland, all Of EASY
access, each with its many and varied at
fractions, are coming to the front as summer
resorts, or. so near together are they, they
may be considered as one and he appropri-
ately called the grand seaside resort Of Port
land. There has been a rush to the eastern
coast, where the natural attractions are In
no way superior to those Of Portland. and
where the advantages and c0nvenienees are
very inferior to those here to be enjoyed. In
due time, however, tourists will stop al
Portland. 1t will be the most popular Of all
watering places. because 1t has everything
necessary for the successful existence OF
such place. The wealthy Of the great in
terror cities have already had their attention
called to Portland. and they want 10 come
here. As the railroad facilities between this
oftN and The NEST iuQrpaaaH fha
Will De The numhar Of eeaaaas- 0islta-s fran
that quarter, and that Is why the Chicago
and Grand Trunk yestibuled train that Is to
pc run as fast, through train between the
city OF great enterprises" and our own
rOrest City the coming summer, will be a
grand good thing for Portland.
~ lesterday the PRESS reporter visited Old
Urcnaru, that IS so popular with hundreds Of
tourists to the Pine Tree State 1t was only
lew moments ride on the cars, and when
the writer arrived there he had the pleasure
Oh seeing probably the finest beach on the
Atlantic coast Of the United States. It was
high tide, and the breaking OF the waves on
the sandy beach that extends for miles away
was grand sight One Of the first persons
the PRESS man met was Mr.. Staples. pro
priet0r Of the Sea Shore House.
"Yes," said Mr.. Staples, in reply TO ques-
tions asked him, I'VE are looking for better
season than we had last year. There are
two reasons why last summer was not a very
profitable one for the seaside houses. In the
~.
business is always duller at the summer h0-
tells on those years; and, secondly 1t was
very cold. When 1t Is more Comfortable 10
remain by the coal fires at home people will
not go IN large numbers TO the summer re-
sorts. Then the season was late and short
last year. This year there are indications Of
an early season; the presidential campaign
Is over, and should say that probably we
Will have hot summer. II we do have a
hot season we win have all the visitors we
can Accommodate AT Old (lraharH
l had about forty bOarders from
Chicago. and they were nearly all very
wealthy people. The Chicago and Grand
Trunk yestibuled train that Is to run TO Port
land VIII be good thing. You see the guests
had from Chicago last season will be glad TO
have the train put on, for 1t will enable them
to come east far more conveniently and
easily than they could before"
What are you doing here at Old Orchard
In the way Of improvements? ?" asked the re-
"Ever since Old Orchard was separated
from Saco and became town by itself the
the citizens have given much attention to
improvements. AT the last meeting the
town appropriated $500 for streets; l,7OO
for sewers and 81, 800 extra for sidewalks.
brick sidewalk nine feet wide will be
made from the railroad depot down BY the
Sea Shore house to the beach. A lot Of
shade trees are being set out on the different
streets and crew Is at work upon the
sewers. Then there Is, understand, rather
InOEO tudu TIC usual amount OF building.
Painters are at work upon the outside Of the
Sea Shore house and some improvements ara
being made inside"
After leaving Mr.. Staples the reporter
walked through number Of different streets
visited some Of the other hotels and finally
strolled into the grove Of handsome white
pines on the camp grounds. A number Of
buildings In the process Of construction
were passed A large bowling alley has
been bullt between the Irving house and
FISK lOn4H nv Mr. kiQk N ha naaH In
nectiOn with his hotel.
Butler and Mackey are building a three
story building between Lanes restaurant
and the depot. The first story will contain
three stores and there will be rs rooms In
the two upper stories. Next fall or perhaps
not until another year Messrs. Butler and
Mackey viii build an addition to the house
they are now erecting, doubling It's present
capacity. 1t will then be 60xG5 feet. Mr.
John Dunphy Of this city. has built a large
two and half story house between the
Ocean house and the railroad, and Mr..
Staples OF the Old Orchard house, Is build
ing cottage on Grand avenue
Mr.. Il. Blouln Of Lewiston, has under way
new cottage on Grand avenue, below the
Cleaves house.
Mr.. @. r. Whlttemore Is building a large
% story building that will be occupied BY
Mr. Chas. Mclaughlin Of Augusta, as a res
taurant. This house Is also on Grand
avenue.
Mr.. Allen OF Lawrence, Mass, is eomplet-
ing cottage on Grand avenue IN the rear Of
the Fisk house.
Near the camp ground on Washington
avenue, Capt Robert Stevens Of Alfred. will
build cottage. The lumber and bricks are
on the spot and workmenl have begun dig
ging the cellar.
Mrs. Hattie A. Kicker, Of BiddefOrd, Is
having small cottage erected In the grove
close by the camp ground.
DR.. Burnham Of SacO, has almost com
pleted two story cottage between the depot
and the electric light works.
Besides the building OF new cottages con
has been and will be done In re-
pairing old ones. All that Is now necessary
TO make the coming season an unusually sue
cessful and gay one at Old Orchard Is a
long, hot summer.