Waterfront Decline

     Enjoying the prosperity the end of the 19th century brought to Portland, city officials failed to fund the up-keep of the waterfront.  Robert Babcock explains, "most city leaders remained content to let the Grand Trunk Railway make all the effort and shoulder all the expenses; no plan was forthcoming and no city wharves or warehouses were built" (Babcock 1982 77-78).  It seems that the city planners felt comfortable letting outsiders determine the fate of the city and make all the decisions.  

     Other ports, however, were making much needed improvements.  Saint John had a coordinated program which included private and public funding to improve their facilities.  The Grand Trunk Railways was beginning to find it difficult to persuade ships to call at Portland because the terminal facilities were in such poor condition.  In 1917 Congress ordered that something be done to fix up the waterfront area, but by that time it was too late. 

   For over 70 years Portland had served as Montreal's winter port. But with growing political heat from Halifax and Saint John, attention began to shift to the Canadian Provinces and Portland was left behind (Barry 1982). Saint John already had a modern waterfront in place with new wharves, warehouses, and breakwaters.  On top of that tariffs were rising and Canadian importers could no longer afford the route from Portland (Babcock 1987).  After a period of great success, Portland found itself in the familiar spot of having to pick up the pieces and start anew.