History of the Pride Motel
We are proud to be the fiduciaries of a long time tradition of innkeeping on our property. The property was originally the Milliken Family homestead farm built around 1780. The farm was passed on to several generations of Millikens until the advent of the automobile caused an influx of tourist activity to the southern Maine beach communities along the old Boston Post Road, now known as US Route 1. Roadside lodging establishments sprang up all along the coastline to meet the new demand. Shortly after 1900 the property added, what were called at the time, several "housekeeping cabins" in the area where the motel building and the pool are currently situated. The cabins had no facilities but bathrooms and meals were available in the main house.
There were a couple marriages by Milliken women to men with prominent Scarborough surnames, such as Moulton and Scammon, in the 1920's. Shortly thereafter, the innkeeping property was upgraded, while farming was discontinued and acreage sold off. We have advertising from the period touting cabins with indoor running water and toilet for 25 cents per night. In 1928 the Pride family acquired the property. Henry Pride added his family name to the operation and made several significant changes over the years.
In the 1950's the cottages on the property were sold off to other inns and to individuals for sheds or small camps and hauled away. A then modern motel was constructed complete with televisions which, at the time, were considered a near decadent luxury! The motel advertised sound proofed walls and drive up convenience. Henry Pride also added ten cottages to the rear of the property all with private bathrooms.
Following his death, the property was run by the Trouvalis family from 1960 to 1963 and then the McCracken Family until 1968 when purchased by James and Arline O'Reilly. As the O'Reilly's raised their family in the house, they modernized the property and made it a popular destination for many other young families. They knew that families want a comfortable clean room, a place to relax, and a friendly host when traveling, and that is what they strove to provide. They added kitchen facilities to nearly all of the rooms, made additions to the smaller cottages, upgraded to color cable tv, paved the driveway, and added air conditioning and a swimming pool.
