History of Maine Sites: Prouts Neck March 23, 2013

Observations and Reactions:

I have worked at Prouts Neck Country Club since the summer of 2007 and will work there for two more summers. I first thought that it was the worst possible job anyone could have. I thought that the people would be aweful and that I would be their slave. This was not the case at all. After a year or two of working at Prouts I warmed up to the people and the surrounding sites. The sites include Massacre Pond, the Black Point Inn, Winslow Homer’s studio, and the somewhat famous but not really famous at all Cliff-Walk. Some cool people live on the Neck such as Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner) and a big portion of the Rockefeller family. Prouts has become my favorite place in Maine because of the interesting personalities from all over America and the awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean.

This visit to Prouts has brought some pleasant and not so pleasant surprises. Recently the golf course has undergone a Master plan to renovate the course. Trees have been removed, bunkers have been added and cart paths have been improved (I don’t golf so it doesn’t really matter. I like it though). Unfortunately, over the years the dunes that run parallel to the first two holes have been eroding faster ever since the Pine Point Jetty was built. As a result of this a recent storm has caused the water to overtake the dunes. Outside of the golf course exists the Black Point Inn, Massacre Pond, and Winslow Homer’s house. People from all over the world come to the Black Point Inn to visit the historical sites. Massacre Pond, as well as the seventh hole, is the site of a massacre of European settlers during King Phillip’s war. I wasn’t able to visit the cliff walk or Winslow Homer’s house because the road was closed.

Historical Background:

Originally the Neck was populated with the Abenaki. Many European explorers visited Prouts including a man by the name of Thomas Cammock who was granted land to inhabit by the King of England. His wife and best friend, Henry Jocelyn, inherited his property when he died. They eventually married. The fur trading that they engaged in was very profitable prior to King Phillips War. Jocelyn was forced to sell his property. The area of Prouts Neck and the greater Scarborough area was not a safe place to live and in 1677 a group of Englishmen were ambushed by the Native Americans. Massacre Pond is now named after this event. When the new owner of Prouts passed away his children sold the property to Timothy Prout. Prout then sold Prouts Neck to Thomas Libby. Thomas Libby built an Inn on the Neck and people from around the country came to visit. People still visit, but instead of visiting Libby’s Inn they visit the Black Point Inn.

In 1907 a nine hole golf course was built on Prouts Neck and in 1923 an additional nine holes were added by the golf course architect Wayne Stiles. Prior to the construction of the golf course the owners of the property were involved in farming and would not sell the land because of this. However, some wealthy vacationers bought 140 acres of land on the western side of Prouts for the purpose of a country club. Development of eastern Prouts, however, occurred much earlier. Winslow Homer’s family purchased a large portion of land in 1881 and they began to develop the area. Small summer houses were constructed for wealthy rusticators including the Rockefeller family. Winslow Homer’s house was also constructed here. Ever since the development of Prouts and the construction of the country club the area has become a summer community.

www.proutsneck.org

“Highlights of Prouts Neck History Prior to Becoming a Summer Community” – Bob Edmonson

The Lobster Coast –Collin Woodard