Kinney Shores

The Kinney Shores streets were laid out in the sub-division shown in the drawings of Jay Smith, New York City developer of the area. Oceanside and Palmer Avenues were the only streets accepted by the City of Saco. All others became known as paper streets.

Mitty Kinney bought land in the area from Jay Smith. She had houses built by Mr. Brennam. She also sold land to the Coffeys which they presently own.

The early families were the Coffeys, Fergusons, Father Laflamme, Briggs, Winnes, Thibeaults and others. In fact there were only ten families in 1924. The Dates, Bibeaus, Hawks, Goodmans, Morgans, MacKenzies, Rulings, Sinclairs and Kerrys also were soon to come.

The railway running forward from Old Orchard and backwards from Camp Ellis to Old Orchard was called the Dummy Line. It operated over a right of way back of the lots on the west side of Oceanside Avenue. By 1923 the 1882 charter and the right of way were abandoned.

1927 was the year of the great storm and high flooding tide. It moved from their foundations two two story houses located on the sands at the end of Oceanside Avenue adjacent to the mouth of Goosefare Brook. The Thibeaults and Winnes originally built their homes here. Time and tides forced both families to move across the street from the beach and locate on the west side of the street. At a later date both dwellings were again moved. This time Mr. Thibeault rolled his home on logs down the Dummy Line using horses to pull the house to Palmer Avenue where both family homes came to be relocated. Arthur and Kitty Winne were then under the age of ten and remember the circumstances.

The Kinney Shores Association began from an idea instigated by Arthur Winne. The first meeting around 1953 was held on the Winnes' porch. The first president was Mr. Coffey. The Kinney Shores Association permitted renters as well as owners to take memberships. The high point of the season in the early days was the picnics. At first it was a barbecue with races for the children as well as an annual meeting to elect a new president. Later the idea of having a pot luck supper became popular.

In October 1972 Cottage, Shore, and Piney Woods Avenues were closed off by adjoining proprietors at the beach edge with various types of bulkheads such as wood, rocks, or concrete.

The Camp Ellis voluntary fire department responds to fire calls from Kinney Shores' residents even though the call reaches the Saco Department. In the summer of 1976 they asked for assistance in identifying the source of calls from Kinney Shores. To Marnee Pattee the responsibility fell as longtime well-informed and dependable householder. She drew a list identifying the property owners with designated lot numbers by streets all in proper sequence for each street. Some householders for their own safety have posted such numbers on their buildings. The Kinney Shores Association ought never to fail in their annual financial support to the volunteer fire department.

In February 1978 a northeast wind combined with high tides struck and destroyed beach front bulkheads and protective devices and threatened a wash out of the community. The city attempted to seal off the threat at the foot of Palmer Avenue by dumping truck loads of huge granite blocks. After the flood subsided the property owners expressed fear that their access to the beach was threatened by the municipality blocking Palmer Avenue. The Kinney Shores Association by a petition and a delegation of the city council on September 6, 1978, objected to bulkheads of any sort restricting access. Qualified authorities, the National Government, U.S. Army engineers, State and National environment agencies appear to believe no artificial barriers should be built because they produce drastic changes to the environment. Elsewhere the use of natural sea grass has become a good alternative.

Meanwhile no authority authorized the building of the bulkheads nor did any authority stop their construction. Oceanfront proprietors proceeded with construction of high concrete walls, and others dry stone wall bulkheads. Some appear to have been located in part on the public beach. No construction permits were issued. To accommodate the public right of access to the beach wooden steps were built from the top of the bulkheads down an average of eight feet to the beach level.

During construction the state department of environment protection inspected the construction and declared no new construction could be built without state permission.

In the summer of 1981 it was observed that there was a big build-up of sand behind the bulkheads and a solid extensive root growth therein of lush seagrass. Authorities now claim this to be the best barrier against overflowing tides and waves. It then became necessary to build walkways in each right of way to the beach and to discourage people passing over the seagrass. The city of Saco up to this time had turned a deaf ear to requests for constructed walkways.

The Kinney Shores Association supplied modern wood walkways made of short cross planks threaded together with steel cable. These planks are cut from coniferous wood impregnated with preservative.

On September 7, 1982 a delegation from the Kinney Shores Association attended a city of Saco planning board meeting to study a proposal to use a vacant city lot for a car parking area for public use to relieve congested street parking. The lot is a short right of way thirty feet wide called Saltaire, a lot with access at north and no exit at south end. Mr. Roger Elliot, attorney was the spokesman for the association. He said, "The Dummy Line people were possessors of this right of way in 1882 and were long since defunct and legally involved in bankruptcy. The Kinney Shores proprietors by deeds possess rights of way throughout the area including access to the beaches, Saco does not. Most rights of way were formally accepted by Saco. State statute says that any right to accept lapses after no action within 30 years or by default".

"Due to the location of Kinney Shores in relation to salt water (beaches and tidewater) the State Department of Environment Protection would have to approve any development in the area other than approval for residential purposes. Non-residential is not looked upon favourably".

"How now can the city of Saco give rights or consent to any use of such rights of way?"

In the summertime of 1985 surveys were undertaken by the city of Saco in Kinney Shores for a sewer system for disposal. Such an undertaking had to recognize state laws and regulations for environmental protection, and national laws and regulations for the seashores environment, which involves the ocean, its varying tide levels in the sand based shores. This work continued for two years. In 1987 sewer pipelines were laid to serve properties on elevations higher than the surrounding flood risk areas. National Historical topographical maps show ground water levels. (High ground water could flood a sewer system).

Through the years owners constantly battled to protect their own interests, to preserve the natural environment, to prevent erosion of property, to limit buildings which are not in character with the community and to prevent the commercialism. Unfortunately in the attempt some members became disenchanted and left the organization.

Despite all, the community has solved many problems. Wooden walkways were built to the beach as well as steps. Grass was planted to prevent erosion. Tern nesting has been encouraged through protection of the land near Goosefare Brook.

Garbage collection, life guards, and police patrol have been instigated or promoted by the Kinney Shores Association.