HISTORY OF THE MARGINAL WAY
The conveyance of a mile-long strip of oceanfront property, called the “Marginal Way,” is the finest donation the Town of Ogunquit has ever received. Josiah Chase, Jr. donated the original parcel in 1925. Beginning in a corner of Oarweed Cove, the now-paved (and longer) footpath meanders through bayberry, honeysuckle and bittersweet, gnarled shrubs of fragrant pink and white sea roses that frame expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The picturesque footpath is called “the margin” because of its patterned development along the edge of Maine’s cliffs. For more than 85 years, persuasive philanthropists have worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the Marginal Way.
HOW IT STARTED
Josiah Chase (1840 to 1928) , a conservationist and former State Legislator, retired to York, Maine and bought a 20-acre strip of land extending “…from Perkins Cove to Israel Head.” Three years before his death in 1928, at age 88, Chase ceded the magnificent Marginal Way to the Town. When he conveyed this prime parcel to the public, Chase became the first of many to demonstrate an altruistic love for Ogunquit. In the years that followed, other Ogunquit landowners conveyed parcels that lengthened the footpath by another 1/4 mile.
The Marginal Way has survived hurricanes, development booms and municipal budget shortfalls. Credit goes to Ogunquit’s Marginal Way Committee and the non-profit Marginal Way Preservation Fund, a 501.c.3 organization.
BENCHES & PLAQUES
As a way of building the endowment fund to help protect the Marginal Way from future storm damage and erosion, the Preservation Fund is offering a total of ten bronze plaques with each plaque recognizing 25 people and/or families.
In an effort to preserve the Marginal Way’s natural beauty the Town has also placed a moratorium on all future signage once the Preservation Fund has filled all ten plaques.