Item 69970 - White Way, Old Orchard Beach, ca. 1938

Item 69970 - White Way, Old Orchard Beach, ca. 1938
Contributed by Boston Public Library
Item 69970
White Way, Old Orchard Beach, ca. 1938
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Image Info

The seven mile long beach stretching away from the downtown is lined with many beach residential properties, condominiums, motels, bed and breakfasts, and a pier. Three versions of the Pier were constructed by man and modified by nature.

The first, was built in 1898 with a casino and a ballroom at the end. Shortly after its completion a storm reduced its length. It was rebuilt, but 10 years later another storm reduced the length of the pier again. A fire in 1969 destroyed many of the wooden amusement rides and the Casino was demolished in 1970.

As of 2012, the current incarnation of the pier was built in 1980 after being destroyed by a blizzard in 1978. It stretches 500 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The wooden walk way is lined with souvenir shops, fair style foods, and a night club at the end of the pier.

The Tichnor Brothers printing company published this type of postcard circa 1938 as part of their Maine series. These, and other postcards, by the Tichnor Brothers Company are officially known as the Tichnor Gloss Series because the photographs were notoriously retouched on such a level that does not allow the postcards to be classified as photographs or paintings. The caption reads, "Where folks enjoy themselves at pier and White Way, Old Orchard Beach, Maine."

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