As a coastal city, South Portland is focused on promoting landcare practices that protect the health of residents, pets, and Casco Bay. The city’s Landcare Management Ordinance restricts the use of pesticides and places limitations on fertilizer use across the city. Our aim is to build back soil health, restore native ecosystems, and protect water […]

If you could travel back in time to the 1800s, you’d barely recognize the area that is called Meeting House Hill. John Mussey’s farm extended from Cottage Road down the hill to Ferry Village and the waterfront. The First Congregational Church (called the Old North Church back then) was on the north side of Cottage […]

Environmental issues affect communities differently and historically, environmental policies and practices have not been equitable to all. Today, some of our communities continue to face greater environmental burdens than others. As a municipality, we can try to address this inequity in the following ways. Reducing energy burden: Energy burden is defined as the percentage of […]

We take a look this week at a lesser-known location in South Portland, Germania Park, and the interesting couple who opened it in 1900. Harry Callan was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States circa 1884. His name was not originally Harry Callan, however. On a naturalization record from 1890, his name was […]

Now that November is here, the South Portland Historical Society’s museum at Bug Light Park has moved into its holiday hours. We are open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Dec. 17. If you haven’t come in to see this year’s immigration exhibit, we encourage you to plan a visit soon. […]

Winter is coming and that means snow and ice and, invariably, an increased risk of falling. A program from South Portland Public Works and Age Friendly South Portland, hopes to make winter a little safer. Seniors (age 65 and older), and any other residents with mobility challenges, can receive a 5-gallon bucket of sand/salt mix, […]

It’s that time of year again. There’s a crisp chill in the air, the fall foliage is in full bloom, and the leaf blowers are blaring. Did you know that the loud sound these pieces of equipment make are not only extremely irritating, but also harmful? The gas-powered equipment generates loud noises which are disruptive […]

Happy Halloween! In honor of this spooky holiday, let’s take a look at the large Victorian home at 161 Preble St. (formerly known as 84 Broadway) in South Portland. Known as “Hillside House” today, the building has long been rumored by college students and others to be haunted and some local storytellers have claimed it […]