Old York Chapter History
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was formally organized on October 11, 1890, in Washington, DC. Old York Chapter was the twenty-second chapter organized in the State of Maine.
Gorgeana was the first chartered city in the English Colony. The Puritans changed the name to York after the residents submitted to Massachusetts in 1652. The Dutch changed Amsterdam to New York in 1654; therefore, York became known as Old York amongst sea captains to differentiate the locations.
The Regent of DAR Buntin Chapter in Pembroke, NH, Mrs. Mary Truesdell, summered in York Beach with her husband for a number of years and became a year round resident of York Beach in 1910. She was active in many local women's groups and organized the Old York Chapter and the Gorgeana Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution. Since she was a member of the Union Congregational Church, many of the chapter activities centered at the Church. The charter member were residents of York Beach, York Harbor, York Village, and Portsmouth, NH.
The Chapter marked several historic sites in York. Sewall's Bridge over the York River was the first wooden pile drawbridge in North America with thirteen spans. The site of Gorgeana's (Town of York) first chapel located on the site of the current St. George's Episcopal Church in York Harbor was marked in 1932. The Chapter also commemorated the organizing and departure of York's Minutemen, the first Regiment in Maine to respond to the Lexington Concord Alarm in 1775, with a marker on the York Village Green. Numerous Revolutionary War patriots' graves have been marked throughout the State of Maine.
Currently the Chapter continues to support the National Society programs, encouraging public awareness of historic facts and events with programs, awards, essays and scholarships.
Town of York History
Indians saw the advantages of the location near the sea, and when the first explorers came to the New World, this section was an Indian village called Agamenticus. Hard hit by a plague, the Indians deserted their village. In 1623, it was reported that no Indians lived in the area.
In 1630, settlers from Bristol, England, finding "good harbor", obtained permission to stay from Sir Ferdinando Gorges, proprietor under the king's grant. Keeping the name Agamenticus, the new residents organized a plantation principally to trade with their sister city in England. In 1638 the name was changed to Bristol.
Dreaming of a great and marvelous city to rise out of the wilderness, Sir Ferdinando Gorges in 1640 was given a city charter by the King. He changed the name from Bristol to the City of Gorgeana after himself. He himself never came to the New World and his ambitions were never realized. In 1652, Massachusetts obtained control of the Province of Maine. The city of Gorgeana was changed to York and the status was changed to a town.
Marauding Indians attacked the town numerous times. One of the most notable was the Candlemas Massacre, occurring on January 15, 1692 - the area was devastated. Inhabitants were killed and several were captured and marched to Canada. The last attack occurred in the Cape Neddick area of York in 1723. The siege of French forces at Louisburg, Nova Scotia in 1724 assured peaceful living in York.
During the 18th century this prosperous community served as the provincial capital. Here was located the King's Prison as well as numerous wharves and warehouses active in the lucrative West Indies Trade. Surplus agricultural goods and lumber were shipped from York, providing the town with a vibrant and steady growth. The conflicts between France and England in the 1790's, and the American Embargo that followed, rocked the local economy. The town did not prosper again until after the Civil War when York developed a fashionable tourist trade.
By the early 1900's, the area was a flourishing summer resort community. Trains, trolleys, electricity, telephones, golf courses, spacious hotels, and summer cottages beckoned the city residents of Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Boston.
As it has since the 18th century, York's town government is conducted in the Town Hall beside the Village Green. Near it stands the First Parish Church, the center of the 18th century village. Many streets contain 18th century houses, some of them still occupied by the descendants of the original builders. Eight historic buildings are open to the public. Costumed guides interpret the life and industry of the 18th and 19th century York at the following buildings: the Old Gaol (1719), the Emerson-Wilcox House (1742), Jefferds' Tavern (c. 1750), the Old Schoolhouse (1870), the John Hancock Warehouse (c. 1750), the George Marshall Store (1870), the Elizabeth Perkins House (1732), and the Jonathan Sayward House (1719). Visit the Old York Historical Society at http://www.oldyork.org/.
York is comprised of four areas: York Village at times referred to as "Olde York", York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick. It is located approximately 10 miles north of Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Route 1/Route 1A.
York's major employers are the hospital and schools with numerous small non-polluting manufacturing companies supplementing the larger tourist industry. Winter year round resident population is 12,000, which increases to 50,000 in the summer. You can visit the York web site at http://www.yorknet.org/
York is proud of its history and equally proud of its public services, friendly spirit and progressive citizens.
The Nubble Lighthouse
"Nubble Lighthouse" is located adjacent to the Cape Neddick peninsula, a rocky promontory extending a mile into the sea. This peninsula has an island or "nubble" at its tip that is one of York's most visited historic sites. The nubble is connected to the mainland at extreme low tide by a rock bar.
A lighthouse station was established here in 1879. The light is located in a 41 foot tower, 88 feet above the high water mark. The tower is 13 feet in diameter, built of brick, and 218 inches thick, reinforced by an outer shell of iron sheathing. Cement was poured between the brick wall and the iron sheathing to further strengthen the structure. The light is enclosed in a small glass dome. A 1000 watt bulb and eight layers of glass prisms are arranged in a solid brass frame. The catwalk railing around the enclosure has a miniature lighthouse decorating each knob. A cylinder of red plexiglas encloses the lamp which is on for three seconds and off for three seconds when it is operating. The light can be seen for 13 nautical miles in clear weather. Improvements in electronic technology made it possible for the Coast Guard to automate the light stations and remove the personnel.
The last keeper left the island in July 1987; the light tower remaining in the control of the Coast Guard. The Town of York with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission undertook repairs to the house and outbuildings. The town received the title to the island and the station in 1998 under the Maine Lights Program. The Cape Neddick Light Station is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States.
Land adjacent to the island, a gift to York Beach Village Corp. in 1929 by William D. Sohier, is a public park. Once a year the Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a picnic to the island.
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This page is maintained by M.E. Smith - last updated August 3, 2004.
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