Maine Memory Network

Ruins of the Merchant Exchange / U.S. Custom House, Portland, 1854

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 1857 Location: Portland Media: Photographic print

Custom House, Portland ca. 1880

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1880 Location: Portland Media: Photographic print

9 Custom House Street (rear), Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: W.L. Blake & Co. Use: Storage

Assessor's Record, 7-11 Custom House Street, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: W.L. Blake & Co. Use: Shed

Port of Portland's Custom House and Collectors of Customs

The collector of Portland was the key to federal patronage in Maine, though other ports and towns had collectors. Through the 19th century, the revenue was the major source of Federal Government income. As in Colonial times, the person appointed to head the custom House in Casco Bay was almost always a leading community figure, or a well-connected political personage.

Portland Hotels

Since the establishment of the area's first licensed hotel in 1681, Portland has had a dramatic, grand and boisterous hotel tradition. The Portland hotel industry has in many ways reflected the growth and development of the city itself. As Portland grew with greater numbers of people moving through the city or calling it home, the hotel business expanded to fit the increasing demand.

Mercy Hospital - School of Nursing - Page 2 of 3

"School of Nursing Customs and Rules at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing Mercy School of Nursing students, Portland, 1977Northern Light Mercy…"

Bath's Historic Downtown - 94 Front Street

"It spread north along Front Street, damaging or destroying many businesses including Walter Webber’s Drugstore. Following Walter G."

An enjoyable conference, Portland 2021
by John C. Decker, Danville, Pennsylvania

Some snippets from a 4-day conference by transportation historians in Portland, September 7-11, 2021

History of Forest Gardens
by Gary Libby

This is a history of one of Portland's oldest local bars