Among Maine’s historical treasures, Ligonia Village, Maine stands out for its authentic glimpse into the past. This abandoned settlement, once a hub of activity and dreams, now serves as a reminder of how communities evolve and sometimes disappear entirely.
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Remarks: Though Ligonia Village no longer thrives as it once did, its historical importance to Maine remains significant. The town’s story offers valuable lessons about community development and the factors that influence settlement sustainability.
Ligonia Village: The Lost Industrial Neighborhood of South Portland
Ligonia Village represents a unique type of ghost town in Maine’s history—not a remote settlement abandoned due to resource depletion or natural disaster, but rather an urban neighborhood that gradually disappeared beneath industrial development. Once a thriving community with its own distinct identity, Ligonia has been largely erased from the landscape, with only scattered remnants hinting at its former existence.
Geography and Setting
Ligonia Village was located in what is now South Portland, Maine, in the area along Lincoln Street, extending to the Forest City Cemetery and down into where the Sprague Energy terminal operates today. At its height, Ligonia’s borders extended much farther, reaching down Main Street as far as Westbrook Street, and including the area now known as Cash Corner (the intersection of Broadway and Main Street).
The neighborhood included Brown’s Hill, which has Ridgeland Avenue (formerly called High Street) running most of its length. This hill provided a natural elevation in the otherwise relatively flat landscape, offering views of the surrounding area and Casco Bay beyond.
Ligonia’s strategic location near Portland Harbor and along transportation routes made it an ideal site for industrial development in the 19th century. This same geography that once made it attractive for settlement would later contribute to its transformation and eventual disappearance as industrial needs took precedence over residential use.
Early Settlement and Development
The area that would become Ligonia has a long history of European settlement dating back to the 1600s. According to historical records, John Brown and his son John Jr. were among the early European settlers who obtained land grants in South Portland (known then as Purpooduck) in the 17th century. The Brown family evacuated during the French and Indian Wars but returned in the early 1700s to continue farming on what would later be known as Brown’s Hill.
In 1833, Henry Bodge, born in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1805, purchased a significant portion of the Brown homestead and a large tract of land in the Ligonia area from William Tuck. This transaction included not only the land and buildings but also livestock and farming equipment. Bodge established himself as a farmer in the area, maintaining operations with animals such as horses, pigs, and milking cows, while cultivating crops including peas, beans, potatoes, rye, barley, and hay.
Bodge was known for his agricultural products, particularly his butter, which won first prize at the Cumberland County Cattle Show and Fair in 1851. As he scaled back his farming operation, he began selling off pieces of his property to various buyers. One significant sale was a two-acre lot at the southeast corner of Main and Lincoln streets in 1859, which would soon become the site of the Portland Kerosene Company’s refinery and factory buildings—marking the beginning of Ligonia’s transformation into an industrial area.
In 1866, Henry Bodge purchased a lot on Main Street where he constructed a large building that would house two stores on the first floor and a community hall above them. This structure, known as Ligonia Hall or Bodge’s Hall, was dedicated in February 1867 and became a central gathering place for the community, hosting fraternal groups, political meetings, and other community events. Bodge himself operated a boot and shoe shop in this building until the early 1880s.
Industrial Growth and Community Formation
The true catalyst for Ligonia Village’s growth came with the establishment of the Portland Rolling Mills in the mid-19th century. This industrial operation, which produced iron products, became the economic backbone of the community and shaped its development for decades to come.
The Portland Rolling Mills was established in the aftermath of the Great Portland Fire of 1866, which destroyed much of Portland’s commercial district. As the city rebuilt, there was significant demand for iron products, and the Rolling Mills positioned itself to meet this need. The first bars of iron came through the mill on June 6, 1866, marking the beginning of a new industrial era for the area.
In 1873, a group of investors incorporated as Ligonia Iron Works and acquired the company with additional capital investment. This name likely contributed to the area becoming known as Ligonia Village. The industrial operation continued to expand, drawing workers to the area and spurring the development of housing and community infrastructure.
What made Ligonia Village unique among Maine’s industrial communities was its predominantly Irish population. Irish immigrants, many fleeing the Great Famine in Ireland in the mid-19th century, found employment opportunities at the Portland Rolling Mills and settled in the surrounding area. This concentration of Irish families gave Ligonia a distinctive cultural character, with shared traditions, religious practices, and social networks.
The village developed into a company town of sorts, with the Portland Rolling Mills exerting significant influence over community life. Workers lived in company-owned housing or in homes built on company land, shopped at company-affiliated stores, and participated in company-sponsored social activities. This arrangement provided stability for workers and their families but also created dependency on the industrial operation for the community’s survival.
A railway connecting Ligonia Village to Portland further integrated the community into the regional economy and facilitated the movement of goods and people. This transportation link enhanced the village’s viability as both an industrial center and a residential community.
Beyond the Rolling Mills, Ligonia developed a diverse array of businesses and services to meet the needs of its growing population. Shops, churches, schools, and social organizations emerged, creating a self-contained community with its own distinct identity. Ligonia Hall, built by Henry Bodge, served as a community gathering place, hosting meetings of the Ligonia Lodge of Good Templars (a temperance organization) and other community events.
Community Life and Culture
Life in Ligonia Village revolved around the rhythms of industrial work and the shared cultural heritage of its predominantly Irish population. The community maintained strong ties to Irish traditions, Catholic religious practices, and social networks that provided mutual support and a sense of belonging.
The Ligonia Lodge of Good Templars, which occupied Ligonia Hall weekly, represented an interesting aspect of community life. As a temperance organization, it advocated for abstinence from alcohol—a position that sometimes conflicted with traditional Irish social practices. The Lodge’s strong presence in Ligonia (with over 145 members by 1867) suggests that temperance values had gained significant traction in the community, perhaps as part of broader efforts toward respectability and social advancement.
Religious life in Ligonia likely centered around Catholic worship, given the predominantly Irish population. While specific information about churches in Ligonia itself is limited, residents would have had access to Catholic parishes in nearby Portland, which had established churches to serve its growing Irish population in the 19th century.
Education was valued in the community, with schools established to serve the children of Ligonia. These educational institutions would have provided basic literacy and numeracy skills, preparing young people for industrial work or, for some, opportunities for advancement beyond the village.
The physical layout of Ligonia reflected its industrial character, with worker housing clustered around the manufacturing facilities. While some residents, like Henry Bodge, owned substantial properties with farmland, many others lived in more modest dwellings closer to their workplaces. This proximity between home and work created a tightly knit community where industrial and domestic life were closely intertwined.
Community celebrations and gatherings would have marked important occasions in Ligonia, bringing residents together to strengthen social bonds. Events at Ligonia Hall, including meetings, lectures, and entertainment, provided opportunities for social interaction beyond the workplace and home.
Decline and Disappearance
The decline of Ligonia Village began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by a combination of economic, technological, and social factors that gradually eroded the community’s foundations.
One significant factor was the changing transportation landscape. As automobiles became more popular in the early 20th century, the railway that had connected Ligonia to Portland became less essential for passenger transportation. This technological shift reduced the village’s connectivity advantage and made it easier for workers to live farther from their workplaces.
Economic challenges also played a crucial role in Ligonia’s decline. The Portland Rolling Mills faced increasing competition in the iron industry, leading to reduced production and fewer available jobs. This economic pressure forced many residents to seek employment elsewhere, gradually depleting the village’s population.
The changing industrial landscape of the Portland area further contributed to Ligonia’s transformation. As petroleum storage and distribution became increasingly important to the regional economy, the strategic location of Ligonia near Portland Harbor made it attractive for oil storage facilities. Gradually, residential properties were purchased and cleared to make way for oil tanks and related infrastructure.
The expansion of the Calvary Cemetery (now Forest City Cemetery) also claimed portions of the former village, converting residential land to burial grounds. This gradual encroachment of non-residential uses further diminished the community’s footprint and viability.
Unlike some ghost towns that were abandoned suddenly due to natural disasters or resource depletion, Ligonia’s disappearance was gradual and incremental. Families moved away one by one, businesses closed, and buildings were demolished or repurposed. This slow decline meant that there was no definitive ‘end’ to Ligonia Village—it simply faded from existence over time.
By the mid-20th century, little remained of the once-thriving community. The industrial facilities that had given birth to Ligonia had either closed or been repurposed, and most of the residential areas had been converted to other uses. The distinctive Irish character of the neighborhood had dissipated as families dispersed to other parts of South Portland, Portland, and beyond.
The construction of Interstate 295 and Veterans Bridge in the latter part of the 20th century further altered the landscape, cutting through portions of what had once been Ligonia and creating physical barriers that fragmented the remaining area. These transportation projects prioritized regional connectivity over local community preservation, reflecting broader patterns of urban development in the post-war era.
Ligonia Today: Remnants and Remembrances
Today, Ligonia Village exists primarily in historical records and the memories of older South Portland residents. The physical landscape that once supported a vibrant community has been almost entirely transformed, with industrial facilities, transportation infrastructure, and the Forest City Cemetery occupying much of the former village area.
The most visible remnant of Ligonia is the Forest City Cemetery on Lincoln Street, which contains the graves of many former residents, including Henry Bodge and his family. This burial ground provides a tangible connection to the community that once surrounded it, preserving the names and life dates of those who called Ligonia home.
Oil storage tanks now dominate much of the landscape where houses and shops once stood, particularly in the area extending toward Portland Harbor. These industrial facilities, operated by companies like Sprague Energy, represent the economic forces that ultimately displaced the residential community.
The street pattern in parts of South Portland still reflects elements of Ligonia’s layout, with Lincoln Street and portions of Main Street following their historical alignments. However, the construction of Interstate 295 and Veterans Bridge has significantly altered the area’s connectivity and visual character.
Few, if any, original buildings from Ligonia Village remain standing. Structures like Ligonia Hall and the homes of prominent residents like Henry Bodge have long since been demolished, leaving no architectural legacy of the community. This absence of physical structures makes Ligonia’s history particularly vulnerable to being forgotten.
Local historical organizations, including the South Portland Historical Society, work to preserve the memory of Ligonia through research, publications, and educational programs. These efforts help ensure that this chapter of South Portland’s history is not entirely lost, despite the absence of visible remnants.
The name ‘Ligonia’ itself has largely disappeared from common usage, with most current residents of South Portland unfamiliar with this former neighborhood designation. Maps and official documents no longer reference Ligonia as a distinct area, reflecting its complete absorption into the broader municipality of South Portland.
Historical Significance and Legacy
Despite its physical disappearance, Ligonia Village holds significant historical importance as a case study in industrial community development and decline in New England. Its story illuminates broader patterns of economic change, immigration, and urban transformation that have shaped Maine and the region.
As an Irish immigrant community, Ligonia represents an important chapter in the history of Irish Americans in Maine. The village provided opportunities for Irish families to establish themselves economically and socially in their new country, creating a supportive community based on shared cultural heritage and workplace connections. The experiences of Ligonia’s Irish residents reflect the broader story of Irish immigration to the United States in the 19th century, including both the challenges faced and the communities built in response.
Ligonia’s development as an industrial community centered around the Portland Rolling Mills illustrates the profound impact of industrialization on settlement patterns and community formation in the 19th century. The village exemplifies how industrial enterprises could generate not just economic activity but entire communities with distinct identities and social structures.
The decline and disappearance of Ligonia also holds lessons about the vulnerability of communities to economic and technological change. When the industrial base that supported the village weakened, the community proved unable to adapt or diversify sufficiently to ensure its survival. This pattern has been repeated in countless industrial communities across New England and beyond, as economic shifts render once-thriving settlements obsolete.
Ligonia’s transformation from residential neighborhood to industrial zone reflects broader patterns of urban development in the 20th century, when zoning practices often prioritized industrial and commercial uses over existing residential communities, particularly working-class neighborhoods. The gradual displacement of Ligonia’s residents to make way for oil storage facilities and transportation infrastructure exemplifies how economic considerations often outweighed community preservation in urban planning decisions.
The near-complete erasure of Ligonia from the physical landscape raises important questions about historical memory and preservation. Without visible remnants or active commemoration, communities like Ligonia risk being forgotten entirely, their stories lost to future generations. This highlights the importance of historical research, documentation, and education in preserving the memory of places that no longer exist in physical form.
Ligonia in Context: Maine’s Industrial Ghost Towns
Ligonia Village represents a distinct category among Maine’s ghost towns—an urban industrial community that disappeared due to economic changes and land use decisions rather than a remote settlement abandoned due to resource depletion or natural disaster. This pattern of industrial neighborhood decline and erasure has occurred in many urban areas across Maine and New England, though these ‘ghost neighborhoods’ often receive less attention than more dramatic abandoned settlements in remote locations.
Other Maine ghost towns like Flagstaff, which was intentionally flooded to create a reservoir, or Riceville, which declined after its tannery burned down, experienced more sudden and complete abandonment. Ligonia’s disappearance, in contrast, was gradual and incremental, with no single event marking its end. This pattern of slow decline is common in urban industrial neighborhoods but creates different preservation challenges than more dramatically abandoned sites.
Ligonia shares some characteristics with other industrial communities in Maine that rose and fell with specific industries. Towns like Davidson, which developed around logging operations, and Perkins, which supported shipbuilding and ice harvesting, similarly depended on particular economic activities for their existence. When these industries declined or disappeared, the communities they supported often followed suit.
What distinguishes Ligonia from many other Maine ghost towns is its proximity to a major urban center (Portland) and its eventual absorption into the suburban development pattern of South Portland. While more remote ghost towns often remain as abandoned sites with visible ruins, Ligonia was completely transformed by subsequent development, leaving almost no physical evidence of its existence.
The story of Ligonia also differs from that of many Maine ghost towns in its ethnic dimension. As a predominantly Irish community, Ligonia represented a distinct cultural enclave within the broader Portland area. This ethnic character shaped the community’s development and identity in ways that distinguish it from more ethnically homogeneous settlements elsewhere in Maine.
Visiting Ligonia Today
For those interested in exploring what remains of Ligonia Village, a visit to the area requires some historical imagination, as few visible traces of the former community exist. However, several sites can provide context and connection to this vanished neighborhood.
The Forest City Cemetery on Lincoln Street offers the most direct link to Ligonia’s past. This burial ground contains the graves of many former residents, including Henry Bodge and his family. Visitors can walk among the headstones, noting the names and dates that connect to Ligonia’s history. The cemetery’s location within what was once the heart of Ligonia makes it particularly significant as a remnant of the former community.
Lincoln Street itself follows its historical alignment through what was once Ligonia Village. A drive or walk along this road, from Main Street toward the Sprague Energy terminal, traverses the core of the former neighborhood. While the buildings and landscape have changed dramatically, the street pattern provides a framework for understanding Ligonia’s spatial organization.
Brown’s Hill, with Ridgeland Avenue running along its length, offers a topographical feature that has remained constant since Ligonia’s heyday. From this elevation, visitors can gain a perspective on the surrounding area that would have been familiar to residents of historical Ligonia, though the view now includes industrial facilities and transportation infrastructure rather than the homes and shops of the village.
The South Portland Historical Society Museum at Bug Light Park, though not located in Ligonia itself, contains exhibits and archives related to South Portland’s history, including information about Ligonia Village. Visitors interested in learning more about this vanished community can access historical photographs, maps, and documents that help bring Ligonia’s story to life.
The area where the Portland Rolling Mills once operated, near the intersection of Main and Lincoln Streets, now contains oil storage facilities and other industrial uses. While not accessible to the public, this site represents the industrial heart of historical Ligonia and the economic engine that drove its development.
Cash Corner, at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street, marks what was once the southern extent of Ligonia. Though now known for the Cash family that operated stores there, this area was historically part of the broader Ligonia community. The commercial character of this intersection reflects continuity with its past as a local business center.
Visitors should be aware that much of what was once Ligonia is now private industrial property or transportation infrastructure, with limited public access. A respectful, observational approach from public rights-of-way is recommended for those interested in exploring the area.
Conclusion
Ligonia Village represents a distinctive chapter in Maine’s history of ghost towns—an urban industrial community that gradually disappeared beneath the expanding industrial and transportation infrastructure of the Portland area. Unlike more remote abandoned settlements that still exist as physical ruins, Ligonia has been almost completely erased from the landscape, surviving primarily in historical records and local memory.
The story of Ligonia illuminates important aspects of Maine’s industrial and immigration history, particularly the experiences of Irish Americans who found economic opportunities and built communities around manufacturing enterprises like the Portland Rolling Mills. The village’s development, decline, and ultimate disappearance reflect broader patterns of economic change, technological evolution, and urban transformation that have shaped communities across New England.
While few physical traces of Ligonia remain today, its history offers valuable insights into the complex relationships between industry, community, ethnicity, and urban development in 19th and 20th century Maine. The near-complete erasure of this once-vibrant neighborhood from the landscape underscores the vulnerability of working-class communities to economic shifts and land use decisions, as well as the challenges of preserving historical memory when physical remnants have disappeared.
As South Portland continues to evolve in the 21st century, the story of Ligonia Village serves as a reminder of the layers of history beneath the contemporary landscape—the communities, industries, and individuals that shaped the area before being obscured by subsequent development. By remembering Ligonia and other vanished communities, we gain a richer understanding of the complex historical processes that have created the Maine we know today.
Sources:
https://newenglandwithlove.com/ghost-towns-in-maine/
https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/06/a-window-on-the-past-henry-bodge-of-ligonia/
https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/six-new-england-ghost-towns/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Maine
https://www.silverrecyclers.com/blog/metal-detecting-in-maine.aspx
