Scarborough Historical Society & Museum Videos
SHS Videos are available at three locations:
You Tube – Newer society videos have been uploaded to YouTube and are available to the public on the Scarborough Historical Society Channel. Video Binder – Several years ago many of our videos, which were on VHS Tape, were converted to DVD format. Here is a listing of those videos. They are available for viewing at the Scarborough Historical Museum.
Videos currently available online (YouTube.Com)
The Scarborough Historical Society Channel allows you to play many of the Scarborough Historical Society videos at home or on your mobile device.
March 1, 2026 – “Pirates of New England” presented by Seth Goldstein. What do you think of when you hear the word “pirates?” Most people think of sparkling blue Caribbean waters, but New England has a rich and fascinating connection to these “Brethren of the Coast.” Seth Goldstein will share stories of pirates throughout the region. Some of these instances of piracy even took place right here in our backyard of Maine. Prepare yourself to be introduced to a rogues gallery of sea raiders with connections to New England including Dixie Bull, Edward Low, and “Black” Sam Bellamy.
February 2026 – “Scarborough’s Danish Village: History and Background”
Presented February 1, 2026, by Frederic Thompson & David Rines.
In 1930, Portland hotelier Henry Rines opened the Danish Village in Scarborough, an ambitious and first-class motor court comprising 100 individual units. Designed by architect Peter Holdensen, the village drew its inspiration from Ribe, one of Denmark’s oldest towns and Holdensen’s homeland. In this illustrated presentation, Frederic Thompson will explore the history of the Danish Village and its architectural roots, and Dave Rines will introduce the town of Ribe, Denmark, that inspired this distinctive Scarborough landmark.
January 2026 – “‘Nimrod the Scarboro Slave’ and Other Stories about Slavery in Maine”
Recorded January 4, 2026, at the Scarborough Historical Society’s monthly meeting, “‘Nimrod the Scarboro Slave’ and Other Stories about Slavery in Maine.” Presented by Eben Mille, this presentation draws on local traditions, such as stories like “Nimrod the Scarboro Slave,” as well as archival resources to explore the history of slavery in Scarborough and elsewhere in Maine.
November 2025 – Water in Scarborough
Due to unforeseen personnel and technical difficulties, we were unable to record Paul Thomas Hunt’s presentation, “Water in Scarborough.” Fortunately, Mr. Hunt gave a similar talk to another group in May, which covered much of the same material. In addition to discussing the water supplied by the Portland Water District (PWD), that earlier presentation also addressed wastewater collection and treatment managed by the PWD.
1200 Miles of Pipe
A History of Water and Wastewater in Greater Portland
Oct 2025 – Trolleys in Scarborough by Phil Morse.
Phil Morse of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport presents an illustrated program on the Portland Railroad and the era of electrification (1891–1941). He focuses on the years when Scarborough enjoyed trolley service—where lines ran, where riders could travel, and how trolleys shaped daily life for work, school, and leisure. This presentation brings to life a time when electric cars connected Scarborough residents to greater Portland and beyond.
“A High School Comes to Scarborough” by Stephen Spaulding, MD.
From colonial education laws to the opening of Scarborough High School in 1927, Dr. Stephen Spaulding brings history to life in “A High School Comes to Scarborough.”
Packed with rare photos, fascinating facts, and stories of students and teachers, this presentation reveals how Scarborough built its path to higher learning.
📜 Based on research by Linda Snow McLoon and the Scarborough Historical Society archives.
The Development of Higgins Beach, presented by Rodney Laughton, 5 May 2025, at the Scarborough Historical Society.
Scarborough Audubon Center by Linda Woodward
This program dives into the exciting world of the Scarborough marsh, looking at animals, people, and how the land has changed. It examines how humans have used the marsh and how the marsh center itself came to be. It also looks at how the diversity of animals has changed over the years, noting what species have left the marsh and what animals have developed there. Some species have recovered and now are in abundance, while others have become endangered. The marsh is changing due to climate change, and the program looks at what the marsh could be like in the future.
“Scarborough Fire Department” presented by Nicholas Reichard.
This presentation examines the history of the Scarborough Fire Department. In the early 1900s, many communities, including Scarborough, quickly mobilized following a series of devastating fires in the surrounding area that resulted in the loss of several grand hotels and sparked widespread wildfires. Scarborough began establishing fire stations and assembling fire-fighting equipment at that time. Over the next century, dedicated residents laid the foundation for what has become the proud legacy of today’s Scarborough Fire Department. Nicholas Reichard, a representative of the Fire Department, shares the department’s rich history in this program. Recorded January 5, 2025, sponsored by the Scarborough Historical Society and the Prouts Neck Historical Society.
The Lost Pequawket Tribe of the Saco River – Presented by Brenton Hill on November 3rd, 2024.
Paupers’ Graves: Scarborough’s Town Farm Cemetery, 1867-1891 by Ron Romano
Presented by Neil Piper.
Farming methods at the time Maine achieved statehood differed vastly from how agriculture is practiced today. This program will look at how farmers eked a living from the soil in Maine in the early 19th century and the role they played in Maine becoming a state. It will show how a Department of Agriculture was developed to support the growing agricultural industry.
| Maine’s Logging Heritage By Mary Morton Cowan |
Scarborough Historical Map Tour
1871-2024
By Dominic Tracey
Mapping Prouts Neck
by Phil von Stade
The Roadside Cabins of Scarborough
by Rodney Laughton
| Mapping Maine with the Osher Map Library by Dr, Matthew Edney | Voting Down the Rose by Anne B. Gass* | |
Past and Present Perspectives in Maine Statehood by Dr. Liam Riordan (March 1, 2020) | The Prince Project: Enslavement in Maine 1600-1800″ by Vana Carmona (February 2, 2020) | |
Prouts Neck Highlights by Phil von Stade* | Voting Down the Rose by Anne B. Gass* | |
| The King Trunk by Becky Delaware | Sept. 2019 – Inventing Vacationland by Scott Andrews* | |
| May 2019 – From Volcanoes to Glaciers by Steve Pinette * | ||
| Mar 2019 – Scarborough Stories at MHS by Kathleen Neumann* | Feb 2019 – Maine in the Civil War by Ashley Towle, Ph.D.* | |
Jan 2019 – Scarborough’s Black Point – A Century of Conflict by Michael Davis* | Dec 2018 – Maine Barns by Don Perkins | |
Nov 2018 – I Feel Your Pain: 19th Century Patent Medicines by Roberta Ransley-Matteau | ||
Sep 2018 – Tide Mills by Bud Warren | Maine in World War I by Jason Libby | |
| March 2017 – Wooly Mammoth | 2017 – Thank You for your Support | 1996 – Preserving the Past for the Future |
2018
February 2018 – “Scarborough Cemeteries” by Jan Makowski.
This video of a presentation by Jan Makowski, given on February 4, 2018, at the Scarborough Historical Society, regarding the many Cemeteries in Scarborough, Maine.
March 2018 – “Trolleys Through Scarborough, ME” by Phil Morse
The Portland Railroad system as it existed following the completion of the Saco-Old Orchard line in 1903, operated trolleys on 93.75 miles of track, serving the communities of Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Westbrook, Gorham, South Windham, Falmouth, Cumberland, and Yarmouth. More than 500 persons, including 133 motormen and 133 conductors, were employed. Learn more about Trolleys at the Seashore Trolley Museum and the Narcissus Renovation Project at http://narcissus1912.blogspot.com/
April 2018 – “Longfellow House” by John William Babin
John William Babin of the Maine Historical Society speaks about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the Wadsworth Longfellow House at the April 2018 meeting of the Scarborough Historical Society.
Mapping Prouts Neck
by Phil von Stade
What’s It – Scarborough Historical Society (Maine) volunteers Roger Delaware, Don Taylor, and Becky Delaware talk about various items in the museum and what those objects are. “What is it,” or as we say in Maine, “What’s It” – Presented January 2017. (Please note: The quality of this video is poor.)
Also of interest:
SEDCO – Scarborough Economic Development Corporation produced an excellent series of videos regarding how Covid affected five Scarborough businesses. Represented are:
- ACE Oak Hill & Dunstan Hardware
- Dunstan Tap and Table
- Mend Health of Maine
- O’Relly’s Cure
- Perfect Fit Health and Fitness
For more information on this project and “The Road to Recovery 2020 & Beyond,” please see the SEDCOMAINE.COM website.
