SACO — The city’s 250th birthday bash ended Sunday with music, commentary from local dignitaries and strawberry shortcake.

Festivities were held on the parking lot of the former fire station on Thornton Avenue, beginning with a strawberry shortcake social and then continuing with a performance by the Centennial Brass Band and brief statements from Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant and Saco Mayor Mark Johnston.

The day ended a month-long celebration of the city’s 250th birthday, and was the last of five weekends of activities that had included a parade, history tours, an old-fashioned street fair, a military reenactment encampment, and a square and line dance.

Both Saco Spirit President Johanna Hoffman and Saco Spirit Executive Director Nadeen DeSilva said the celebration was a success. DeSilva said she heard a lot of positive feedback, including the sentiment, “This is why I love living in Saco.” Events like the 250th birthday celebration make people feel like they’re part of a community and gives the city a “sense of place,” she said.

Johnston, as he addressed the crowd, said during the past five weeks, people have rediscovered the history of the city, historic buildings and architecture, and the people who made the community what it is today.

He referenced a ceremony he and Casavant participated in at the beginning of the celebration, at The Meetinghouse in Biddeford, when the two re-enacted the signing of the proclamation that separated the area east of the river from Biddeford, to eventually become the City of Saco.

Prior to the signing of this proclamation 250 years ago, both sides of the river were one settlement. 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.

Casavant said that though the river was then seen as an inconvenience for those from the east side who wanted to attend church, today it is viewed only as an asset and the two cities are now connected with bridges. Casavant said the cities, by working together and bridging the gap, will thrive “in this new economy.”

“I really think we are on the cusp of something very, very big in the future,” said Casavant.

Johnston said he and Casavant are working closely together and “joining together to partner to make sure that we are one community with different mayors.”

Johnston, in celebration of Casavant’s upcoming wedding in October, gave the Biddeford mayor a scarf with pictures of historic sites in Saco.

Before closing, Johnston turned the conversation to the property where the event was being held. He said there’s been much discussion about what to do with the fire station property. Cynthia Taylor, of Housing Initiatives of New England Corporation, will make a presentation to the city council in August about a proposed project to reuse the former fire station, he said. Johnston gave “a sneak preview” of a rendering of the project. The proposed project would turn the former fire station garage into a mixed use of housing, commercial and community space while maintaining the look of the fire station, which was built in 1938. The smaller administration building would be removed for parking.

He said he hopes the council approves the proposal, because he does not want to see the fire station destroyed to make a parking lot.

“I ask all of us to join together in looking at the future of our community,” said Johnston.

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