Walk this way: New historical signs grace downtown Saco

The Great Main Street Fire of 1912 and Saco’s first female physician are just two stories that have been chronicled as the city brings the past into the present with the advent of new street-side history signs.

The idea of replacing the city’s series of historical signs was hatched in 2022 through a collaboration between local government, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. The new sign faces were installed in April.

The project became a reality through a $22,000 matching grant in 2023, made possible by city employees that included planners, public works and the communications department.

“It was a huge interdepartmental effort,” Assistant Planner Madison Vlass said.

Two other big players were City Historian Peter Scontras and Anatole Brown, archives and collection manager at Dyer Library.

“They were incredibly helpful getting me on track and getting the information correct,” Vlass said. “Between the two they provided such a significant knowledge base. I was fortunate to have the help and expertise.”

Brown “was amazing how he could pull facts,” while Scontras helped make sure the most important stories were told and factually correct, she said.

“As the time-honored custodian of this city’s historical records, the Dyer Library and Saco Museum are happy to share an accurate and meaningful history with Saco residents and visitors,” said Brown. “Our doors are always open for anybody who wants to explore our city’s vibrant and fascinating past.”

This panel of the Saco history walk gives information on Laura Black Stickney, the first female doctor in Saco. PHOTO BY ANN FISHER

There are 22 markers in all; one remains to be erected. Most were placed in Saco’s historic downtown district.

In 2005, nine signs dotted the historical downtown area, and while there were some “great stories,” some were sensationalized, Vlass said. Also, the weather had not been kind to the signs, which were taken down in 2022.

What has taken their place is a “more holistic walking tour of the city’s history,” she said.

The signs highlight Saco’s diverse past, featuring locations such as City Hall, Dyer Library and Saco Museum, Pepperell Square, the Saco River Wharves, and Thornton Academy. Notable people include Laura Black Stickney, the city’s first female physician; lumber magnate J.G. Deering; and Sarah Fairfield Hamilton, founder of the Saco chapter of the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union. Pivotal events such as the fire of 1912 and the Great Saco Turnout are also included.

Each sign includes a link and QR code directing viewers to this online content, which will be updated soon for those who want to explore Saco's history in greater depth.

Vlass credits her predecessor, Shannon Chisolm, a former assistant city planner for getting the ball rolling. “She was really the driving force behind this.

“She had a whole matrix of stories.”

Although the new signs can withstand the weather, they can be removed and the vinyl coverings can be replaced. “A lot of longevity is built in,” said Vlass.

When asked if the city plans to erect more signs in the future, she said, “I think it would be a great opportunity to tell even more of the city’s stories.”

Ann Fisher is a freelance journalist based in Southern Maine. She can be reached at 432-7483.