Yarmouth’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan identified “historic character” as one of 5 key topics facing the

Town. The Plan’s public process “heard a common message about the value our citizens place on

https://yarmouth.me.us/historicproperty.

With the survey report in hand, the Committee applied for and received a second HPF grant in July 2019,

guidelines. The Committee has been working with the Gaertner survey since September 2019 to verify

and refine the initial boundaries for the historic districts and developing a draft historic preservation

ordinance. Historic preservation consultants Barbara Vestal, Esq. and Hilary Bassett are assisting the

Meanwhile, in 2018, the Town adopted a Demolition Delay ordinance, which prohibits demolitions of

properties on or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It can be found at this link

listing for another 70 individual structures in the survey area. The report also identifies three districts of

historic significance eligible for listing: the Lower Village district around the harbor and along lower Main

and East Main Streets, the Upper Village district near the intersection of Main and Elm Streets, and the

Royal River Manufacturing Company district on Bridge Street.

Every structure (house, barn, garage, etc.) over 50 years old in the designated village area was surveyed,

per the Maine Historic Preservation Commission’s (MHPC) survey guidelines. Each property surveyed is

recommended by Margaret Gaertner, the Historic Building Consultant who conducted the 2018 survey.

These are the Upper Village, Lower Village, and Royal River Manufacturing Company (aka Sparhawk Mill

area) and are depicted on the map shown below.

shipyards that once flanked the harbor, the many high-style Georgian-, Federal-style and later Greek

Revival-style houses along the lower end of Main Street, East Main and Spring Streets attest to the great

wealth the shipyards generated. Marina Road and the lower end of East Main Street feature smaller-

the side streets are lined with houses and the occasional church. Major industries in this area

included potteries and other manufactories in the early-nineteenth century, later followed by the

Yarmouth Paper Company and the Forest Paper Company. These manufacturers are gone (save for a

industries created. This proposed District is significant as a remarkably well-preserved collection of

buildings with a high degree of integrity. As a whole, they retain the feeling of an intact New England

village of the nineteenth century and also represent successive eras of the development of the Town of

Yarmouth.

recent years the Town is seeing renewed interest in development returning to Main Street. As

development opportunities arise, we want to be confident that the historic resources that define our

community are preserved and protected.

Protection of Yarmouth’s historic architectural resources has thus far relied on the “honor system”

whereby property owners recognize the value of their historic buildings and have generally taken pride

in maintaining them to historic standards. This can be a vulnerable situation for the Town if new owners

and developers purchasing property have different values than those that have prevailed. Gradual

changes can go unnoticed day to day, but over time have a cumulative impact whereby the character

and qualities that exemplify the history, architectural integrity and sense of place of Yarmouth may be

The proposed ordinance would establish the three historic districts and would also identify several

particularly significant historic structures outside of those districts for protection. The ordinance would

provide a process to review new development and building improvements therein, to ensure that

changes are compatible with the existing historic buildings and their streetscape, context and character.

Exterior changes, including new construction and additions are possible. Those that are visible from a

public way will be reviewed so that they fit into the historical context of the neighborhood. It would not

go so far as to regulate paint color, or interiors, or plantings, or external features which are not readily

demonstrated interest in historic preservation. Actions by the Board would be under the Town’s usual

notice and public hearing procedures, similar to the Planning Board.

communities are: Augusta, Bangor, Castine, Gardiner, Hampden, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Portland, Saco,

Topsham and York. The proposed ordinance is informed by the approach used in some of these

communities, with input from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, but has been written to

reflect Yarmouth’s community goals, local regulations, and historic resources.

architecture. It has been a program that has inspired residents to maintain an historic feeling to our

village and historic areas in the town, and it is anticipated (and hoped) that the program will be

continued in parallel to the Historic Preservation Ordinance and its Districts, without being restricted to

Service.