FEATURE | A bird’s-eye view of Biddeford’s history

A recent tour gave residents and others a unique opportunity to learn more about Biddeford’s historic City Hall and its refurbished clocktower

By EMMA BOUTHILLETTE | Contributing writer

Enter Biddeford City Hall from the South Street entrance and it’s hard to ignore the creak of the floorboards underfoot.

**HISTORY PRESERVED** Renee O’ Neil leads a tour through Biddeford’s historic City Hall building, which was designed by John Calvin Stevens. | *Photo by Emma Bouthillette*

“When you walk on the floors, you hear the age of the building, but this building is super solid,” said Renee O’Neil to a group of dozen people on a sunny Saturday morning as she kicked off the tour of the John Calvin Stevens-designed structure that is on the National Register of Historic Places. “What you’re walking on is exactly what people walked on in 1895.”

Saturday’s tour was one of the first in an effort to welcome people into City Hall, share its history and how it functions today, and get a bird’s eye view of Biddeford from the clock tower.

O’Neil, who was integral to renovations in both City Hall and City Theater, led the tour along with City Hall maintenance person Ray LaRose and Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain, who spearheaded the effort.

**POWERING THE HANDS OF TIME |** Tour participants had the opportunity to get a close-up view of the historic clockworks that still keep time. | *Photo by Emma Bouthillette*

“It’s important that people see how city government works and are familiar with coming into the space,” said LaFountain. “Sometimes people attend City Council meetings and it’s the first time they’ve ever been to City Hall. It’ s really a public space for residents to be able to enjoy, learn about, and there’s such great history here.”

“It’s important that people see
how city government works
and are familiar with coming
into the space. There’s such
great history here.”
— Mayor Liam LaFountain

For example, did you know the Biddeford Police Department used to operate out of City Hall? In fact, the metal inlays in the hallway from the South Street entrance are the ceilings of jail cells in the basement below.

Some readers may remember when a bank occupied the ground level on Main Street, which is now the City Clerk’s department. That’s why there’s a light box mounted at the second story level of the brick building with the bold words “Vault Alarm” printed on it. In the event of a vault being breached, that box would light up to alert passersby.

**THE PANORAMIC VIEW** from Biddeford’s clocktower extends over the roof of the Lincoln Hotel and beyond the horizon of northwestern Saco. | *Photo by Emma Bouthillette*

. . .

The group attending Saturday’s tour were a mix of people who grew up in Biddeford and who are new to the city. Everyone shared a love for history and a desire to see the recently restored clockworks

Kyle Lappin, 32, and Amanda Bailiff, 41, are new Biddeford residents and did not realize voters had been asked to approve funding to restore the clock tower in 2007, 2012, and 2015. In 2014, the tower was listed as one of Maine Preservation’s Most Endangered Historic Places.

Four years later, Heart of Biddeford successfully secured a $150,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which funded work by Balzer Family Clock Works to fix the clock mechanism, the four dials, and clock hands.

Finally, in 2020, residents approved a $3.75 million bond to support repairs to the clock tower and other city facilities.

“I’ve never seen transparency such as this,” said Lappin.

“It’s neat that residents are able to come in and see where their money went,” said Bailiff. “And it’s neat to be in an old building. The fact they didn’t tear it down and make a new building like most places, I feel like, do throughout the country. They’re repurposing it in a way that’s still very usable.”

Once inside City Hall from the South Street entrance, there are 109 steps up to the clock tower.

As you enter the tower, small windows offer a panoramic view of the city. Lappin and Bailiff spotted Funtown Splashtown USA’s Dragon’s Descent on the horizon. Climb a few more stairs and you’re faced with the clock’s pendulum that drops through the floorboards from above where the clockworks sit. Listen carefully, and you hear the tick as the pendulum sways to and fro.

**THE REFURBISHED CLOCKTOWER** atop of City Hall dominates the skyscape in downtown Biddeford. | *Photo by Emma Bouthillette*

. . .

Another level up, the intricate clockworks sit, beautifully restored and electrified. Although, LaRose admits he has to adjust the time slightly about every other week to make sure the bell atop the tower rings on the hour between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Sun backlights the clock faces as the hands on each dial approach noon. People who have visited the clock tower have left their names in Sharpie on the wooden walls and beams, claiming their stake on a slice of history.

LaFountain said Saturday’s event was booked within 24 hours of announcing the tour and anticipates it will become a free monthly event for residents and local history enthusiasts.

While the next tour is not yet scheduled, keep an eye on the city’s weekly email newsletter — The Biddeford Beat — to learn about the next opportunity to tour city hall, learn some history, and visit the clock tower.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Emma Bouthillette is a marketer, writer, yoga instructor, corgi mom, and native of Biddeford, Maine. In addition to publishing A Brief History of Biddeford with The History Press in 2017, her byline has appeared in the Portland Press Herald, Maine Women Magazine, and several other Maine-based publications. She is also a member of the Biddeford Gazette’s Advisory Council.

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