Ornament Series
South Portland Historical Society offers a series of ornaments that cover various historic places in South Portland. Each ornament is cast in a durable metal with a beautiful brass finish, and comes in a protective cloth bag. It also includes a card outlining the history of the site and which lets a gift recipient know that proceeds from the sale of each ornament go directly to the South Portland Historical Society and its museum. These ornaments are available for $19.95 plus tax at the Society's museum gift shop at 55 Bug Light Park, South Portland, ME 04106. Shipping is also available; please call us at 207-767-7299 to inquire.
Bug Light ornament, 2014
The Society's 1st ornament in the series was initially made available in 2014. It features Portland Breakwater Light, more affectionately known as Bug Light in South Portland. Bug Light is a part of the logo for both the historical society and the City of South Portland. The lighthouse is one of only a few National Historic Landmarks which are currently designated in our city.
Liberty Shipyard ornament, 2016
The 3rd in the series is the Liberty Shipyards ornament. The 2016 design celebrates the World War II shipyards in South Portland, Maine.
Portland Harbor ornament, 2018
​The 5th in the series is the Portland Harbor ornament, released in 2018. Spring Point Ledge Light and Fort Gorges are landmarks in Portland Harbor and are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Spring Point Ledge Light was first lit in 1897 by Keeper William Lane. The lighthouse still operates and serves as an aid to navigation. Construction of Fort Gorges began in 1858 and advanced quickly throughout the Civil War. Completed in 1865, the fort was already obsolete and was never manned.
Thornton Heights Engine 6 ornament, 2020
One of the last of the volunteer hose companies in South Portland, Engine 6 was based out of the fire station on Union Street in the Thornton Heights neighborhood. The volunteer call company moved into the new Cash Corner station in 2021.
Willard Square ornament, 2022
A trolley is shown entering Willard Square on a typical day in the 1930s. Through the years, Willard Square has been the bustling center of the Willard neighborhood. When Scratch Baking opened in 2004, in the 416-420 Preble Street storefront, it brought new life to the area. With its delicious bagels, breads and other treats, Scratch is now the heartbeat of the square.
Cookie Jar ornament, 2024
The 11th in the series, Cookie Jar Pastry Shop, is a landmark business just over the town line in Cape Elizabeth. Originally opened in 1956 by the Paulson sisters, the bakery was run by Jim Collett in the 1960s. Grace and Ikey Piscopo of South Portland took over the bakery in the early 1970s. Their son and his wife, Tom and Donna Piscopo, purchased the business in 1981 and continue to operate the much-beloved bakery today.
Fishermen's Point ornament, 2015
The 2nd in the series is the Fishermen's Point ornament. It shows the fishing shacks at Fishermen's Point in South Portland, adjacent to Willard Beach, with the majestic Portland Head Light lighthouse in the background. Fishermen's Point is a historic site in So. Portland, ME. Early in its history, it was known as Wharf Point and large sailing ships used to tie up at a large pier there to load and unload. In the past century, the point has been home to shacks that were used by lobstermen and fishermen for storage of nets, buoys, traps and other supplies. There once were many fish shacks along the point, but in more recent years, just two shacks have remained.
Red's Dairy Freeze ornament, 2017
The 4th in the series is the Red's Dairy Freeze ornament, released in 2017. Red's Dairy Freeze is a local landmark in South Portland. The business was originally established in 1952 by Leonard "Red" Bolling as a Tastee Freez franchise; Bolling would later drop the franchise and change the name of the ice cream shop to Red's Dairy Freeze. Over the years, the Bolling family has continued the tradition of serving up ice cream to generations of families, Little League and sports teams, churchgoers and more. Its opening each spring is a welcome sign that summer is on the way.
Cape Elizabeth Depot ornament, 2019
The 6th in the series is the Cape Elizabeth Depot ornament, released in 2019. An old-time locomotive is shown pulled up at the passenger train station on the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth railroad line in South Portland. The site where the train depot once stood is now covered by Domino's Pizza, near the intersection of Broadway and Evans Street.
Memorial Middle School ornament, 2021
The Memorial Junior High/Middle School ornament was released in 2021 as construction had just begun on a new consolidated middle school, located just behind the existing school.
Mahoney Middle School/Junior High/South Portland High School ornament, 2023
The 10th ornament in the series is a depiction of the school building at the corner of Broadway and Ocean Street. The school was first built and opened in 1924 as South Portland High School, after our prior high school building was destroyed by fire. In 1960, the high school and junior high swapped buildings; the Mahoney building became South Portland Junior High School through 1967. The school was known as Mahoney Junior High from 1967-1983, and as Mahoney Middle School from 1983 until its closing in 2023.
