Ocean Park is Founded

The idea of Ocean Park was first discussed at the centennial conference of the Free Will Baptist denomination at The Weirs, NH in July 1880. (The Free Will Baptists later changed their name to the Free Baptists before joining with the Northern Baptists in 1911, which later became the American Baptist Churches USA.) At that time, many denominations were organizing summer encampments along the lines of the Methodist camp at Chautauqua, NY. Among those advocating for an encampment were several leaders from Bates College, a Free Will Baptist institution in Lewiston, ME, thus cementing a long-standing relationship between the College and Ocean Park.

The conference at The Weirs appointed a committee to find a suitable seaside location; they considered eight possibilities along the New England coast before recommending the purchase of the 45-acre Guilford property in Old Orchard Beach for $5,000. In the fall of 1880, the denominational leaders gathered to walk the beach and woods, and to dedicate the land with prayer.

On January 24, 1881, the State of Maine approved a charter for the Ocean Park Association (OPA) as a corporation “to establish a place of summer resort for holding religious, educational, and other meetings at Old Orchard Beach, in Saco, in the County of York.”

One appeal of the Ocean Park site was the existence of the “Dummy” railroad, which first opened in 1880 and served the summertime communities of Saco Bay until 1923. This line ran from the Boston & Maine railroad station in Old Orchard Beach southwestward, stopping anywhere upon request on its way to Camp Ellis, at the mouth of the Saco River, where passengers could connect with steamers to various points. This service made it quite convenient to travel to Ocean Park from anywhere else in the country via either rail or ship.

One of the first and most important projects of the new Association was the construction of a space for worship and other community functions. The Temple  (officially named the “Way of Truth Temple”), an octagonal building seating a thousand people, was built under contract by James Bickford of Portland in six weeks at a cost of $3,550 plus an additional $42 for making and painting the shutters, and was dedicated on August 2, 1881. “Legend has it that carpenters labored on the roof by moonlight for a week prior to the dedication in order to be finished by the specified date.” (The Story of Ocean Park, p. 26)

As Adelbert Jakeman described it, “the first year in the history of Ocean Park was crowded with activity, meetings, and dreams. Land was cleared, marshy spots were filled, street work was petitioned from Saco, building was begun, committees were named, and the community itself became a human beehive. The original charter was amended, as were the By-laws, with more of the latter being added as requirements for them increased.” (The Story of Ocean Park, p. 24)

The original town plan provided for 300 cottage plots, all of a uniform 50 by 60 feet. Thirty cottages were built in that first year. By 1895, there were more than 100 cottages in Ocean Park.