Daniel E. Blaney - Old Orchard Beach

The great conflagration of August 15, 1907, not only destroyed many hotels, houses, and businesses, it put a damper on tourism. A way was needed to bring back the large crowds that once came to Old Orchard Beach, for the day, the week, or the summer. An answer was found in auto racing on the beach. The year was 1911.

Old Orchard Beach was proclaimed the fastest auto-course in the world. The first auto races held in Old Orchard Beach were on Labor Day weekend, September 46, 1911. Crowds of 50,000 people would come to town for a day of auto racing.

Race cars are seen here turning at the mile-and-a-quarter pole at the foot of Atlantic Avenue. The other pole was located one and a half miles north of the pier. The start and finish line was in front of the grandstand, at the foot of Old Orchard Street. One loop would make a five-mile race. The above race was held on July 4, 1912.

Cloth tarps were draped behind the grandstands to obscure the view of many nonpaying racing enthusiasts. Ropes were strung up and down the beach for five miles to hold back the onlookers. Newspaper stories of the day stated that Boston pickpockets were having a free-for-all.

Joe Nikrent, in his Case car, finished in first place in 10 minutes 28 seconds in the Class C division (nonstock) 231-to-300-cubic-inch piston displacement class. His winning speed was slightly less than 60 miles per hour in this 10-mile race.

The above postcard shows a section of the steel pilings that were removed to allow race cars to pass under the pier with some margin of safety. Local honorary race referees were town clerk Fred Luce; Judge Percy N. H. Lombard; and well-known local mechanic Harry E. McGrath.

The Biddeford Daily Journal of July 3, 1912, stated, All drivers and mechanics have been instructed to appear, at the town hall this evening at 8 oclock for their instructions. The main gate to the beach will be opened at 8 oclock a.m. and a general admission of 50 cents will be charged.

The Biddeford Daily Journal dated Tuesday evening, May 3, 1904, stated that a 15-mile race would be held, for the first time, at Old Orchard Beach. This race never materialized. The above postcard shows Bill Endicott, No. 18, winner of the 100-mile race in 1912.

The Biddeford Daily Journal of Friday, July 12, 1912, stated, Disbrow makes Beach Mile record in 35.1 seconds. The previous best time was 39 seconds in 1911. Louis Disbrow came in on the course in his great Jay Eye Eee, a torpedo-shaped affair that attracted great attention for its shape and business-like appearance.

Seen here is Biddeford and Saco Railroad car No. 616 at the end of the line. George Beaudette is seen talking with motorman George Perkins while awaiting passengers on Old Orchard Street. This photograph was taken in 1939.

Biddeford and Saco Railroad cars No. 616 and No. 31 are shown on Old Orchard Street. Around 1939, this photograph was taken in front of Dantons Restaurant. The first horse-drawn trolley arrived in Old Orchard Beach on Memorial Day, 1888.

This image shows open car No. 63 turning onto Saco Avenue at the top of Old Orchard Street. The building on the left is the Old Orchard Beach Post Office. In 1892, Biddeford and Saco trolleys became electrified. The final run of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad was on July 5, 1939, as buses took over thereafter.