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.
After
nearly 30 years of hard work by his parents, Patrick O'Reilly
and his wife Sue purchased the property
from
Jim and Arline in 1997. After ten years living
in New York City,
they are happy to raise their family in the old
farm house and have continued to make improvements to
the property as
well. The proud tradition of family innkeeping,
while time consuming and challenging, is quite rewarding.
The
Town of Scarborough was first inhabited by the Owascog
Indians and settled by Europeans
in
1633. Scarborough
was incorporated as the sixth town in the Province
of Maine of the Massachusetts Colony on July
14, 1658 and
will celebrate
its 350th anniversary in 2008. For more detailed
town history go to: http://www.scarborough.me.us/townhall/planning/studies/planrpt/rp05021.htm |