SACO/BIDDEFORD — This weekend, Saco kicked off a five-weekend-long party in honor of its 250th birthday.

Events began Saturday morning with a parade through the downtown. Thousands of people lined up along Main Street to watch as about 100 different ensembles went by, including marching bands, public safety units, athletic teams, community organizations and local businesses.

That afternoon, Saco Mayor Mark Johnston and Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant arrived by horse-drawn carriage to the Biddeford Meetinghouse at 30 Meetinghouse Road in Biddeford, to reenact the signing of the proclamation that separated the area east of the river from Biddeford, to eventually become the City of Saco.

The area on both sides of the river was settled in 1630 by English settlers Richard Vines and Captain Richard Bonython who saw the trees here and saw “dollar signs,” said Saco Museum Education and Program Manager Camille Smalley.

The area on both sides of the river was one settlement, first known as Saco, and then later as Biddeford.

Crossing the river to the Meeting House, located on the west side of the river, to attend church services and government meetings, proved to sometimes be a hardship to people on the east side.

In 1752, Sir William Pepperrellborough donated land on the east side of the river for a meeting house, village common and burial ground, said Smalley. People on the eastern side of the river began to go to the new parish, the population grew, and the Massachusetts government was petitioned to make the east side of the river its own district,  said Smalley.

On June 9, 1762, the area of east of the river was proclaimed Pepperrellborough, and later renamed Saco, said Smalley.

“Our mayors will read the official incorporation that was read in this meeting house 250 years ago,” said Smalley.

Casavant and Johnston read the document that deemed the area of east of the river to be a “separate and distinct district” named Pepperrellborough.

“Mr. Mayor, thank you for the opportunity to have our independence,” said Johnston to Casavant.

“Of course the supreme irony is that we want to work together again,” said Casavant, noting a joint initiative between him and Johnston.

Johnston joked that Biddeford could have Camp Ellis in exchange for Biddeford Pool, and Casavant replied that there needed to be further negotiations.

Later that day, a Biddeford trivia contest was held at City Theater in downtown Biddeford, and on Sunday, an ice cream social was held on the grounds of the Dyer Library; and Saco Museum and First Parish Congregational Church held a city-wide ecumenical service.

In honor of the celebration, Johnston has signed a proclamation stating that Saco will be known as Pepperellborough from June 9 through July 8.

Four more weekends of events are scheduled to commemorate Saco’s 250th birthday. For more information and a listing of events, go to www.sacomaine.org/saco250.shtml.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.