1956 Map of Biddeford

About this map

The coastal economy of southern Maine centers on the industrial hubs of Biddeford and Saco, where the Saco River meets the Atlantic at Saco Bay. This mid-century portrait captures a landscape defined by traditional fishing harbors and rising leisure communities, showing the transition from the river's textile-milling history at Factory Island to the seasonal resorts of Ocean Park and Kennebunk Beach. The intricate shoreline is anchored by maritime safety markers like the Wood I Lighthouse and Goat I Lighthouse, while inland, the settlement pattern reveals small family-named crossroads like Adams Corner, Guinea Corner, and Tea Kettle Corner. Educational and religious institutions including St Francis College and Stella Maris Convent stand near the river's mouth. Transportation is dominated by the Boston and Maine Railroad and the coastal Guinea Road, while local cultural history is represented by the Trolley Museum near Arundel.