July/August 2017 | view this story as a .pdf

A cottage on hidden Hills Beach north of Biddeford Pool is a wake-up call
for a new owner in search of a memorable view.

By Colin W. Sargent

At sunrise, “It looks like God coming out of the water,” says listing agent Ray Cronkite of the ocean view from 123 Hills Beach Road.

To reach this four-bedroom, two-bath 1920s cottage perched on a private beach, drive to the University of New England in Biddeford along Route 9, cut through the campus, and take Hills Beach Road the toward the surf until you find this quiet enclave facing east on the sandy peninsula protecting the north side of Biddeford Pool.

If you crave the ocean, this is the kind of destination where you stop your car, get out, take a deep breath of salt air sweetened by sea roses. Talk about wow factor. With views this long, it’s enough to make a former smoker crave a cigarette.

From the sea, the yellow-shingled cottage is symmetrical and sweetly framed with its two gables. For security, there are two bulwarks against the waves. “The original seawall below is rectangular granite blocks,” Cronkite says. The stones are very old and pieced. “The wall on top is rip rap.”

No fewer than five islands dance into view from here, including Wood Island, with its hypnotic white lighthouse. Barely a few surf casts away is “Basket Island, where novelist Anita Shreve is building a house.”

At mid-tide, a lovely sandy causeway connects the mainland to Basket Island,but at high tide, the causeway disappears. Not long ago, “a young couple leased a brand new Chevy Suburban and drove out to Basket Island,” but the rising tides followed, marooning them. When they tried to return, “the tires just dug in halfway across.” The lady in the SUV “was in tears.” In the end, they had to abandon their vehicle to nature. “At high tide, you could just see the top of their car.”

If it seems as if Cronkite is an acute local observer, he is. “I live next door.” Full disclosure, “I sold this house in 2008 to a urologist for $835,000. He loves this area so much he’s upsizing to a larger place nearby.”

Mainers know Cronkite as the former owner of The Maine Aquarium in Saco. He grew up right here and has always had a yen for real estate.

He points out the giant sweep of blue that engulfs “Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough Beach, and Old Orchard Beach.” He steps closer to the rail and points again. “Do you see those two squares on the distant peninsula?”

It’s easy to make the large squares out, though they’re wavery and smoky in the distance.

“Well, that’s Maine Medical Center on the West End in Portland.”

In all, “you can see the shoreline of five towns. During the summertime every Thursday, you’re going to see fireworks.”

Come winter, things quiet down. “Hills Beach is primarily retirement or vacation homes. It’s all but unheard to stay here all year round and raise children. But in the winter, the doctors from the university make good tenants.”

It’s easy to miss this stunning, narrow, beachy peninsula that reaches to the inlet to Biddeford Pool, but Cronkite seems okay with that. Bufflehead’s bistro is steps away from 123 Hills Beach Road. The Sea Star Market is close by, too.

If you’re wracking your brains and wondering if you’ve ever been out here before, that’s understandable. Say you’re from Boston or Portland–there’s always a reason not to go to Hills Beach. That’s why it’s remained one of the last unselfconscious stretches of sand along the coast of Southern Maine. It’s the beach not taken.

Put another way, this $669,000 listing has a ‘trillion-dollar view.’ The lot is .15 acres, with 70 feet of beach and ocean frontage. While this may be a bargain basement opportunity, don’t look for a basement. Total square footage above ground is 1,576, and some might classify it as a teardown. The breezy sea porch on the first floor runs the length of the wood-frame structure, the islands and water sparkling into view from two classic white rocking chairs. You can see yachts entering Biddeford Pool, cruise ships headed for Portland Harbor.

While the interior could use updating and cosmetics are required just about everywhere, inner strengths reassure. In particular, each of the two oceanfront bedrooms upstairs has a door to the second-floor deck. A larger bedroom has “five new Andersen windows.” Not big on stairs? There’s a single bedroom on the first floor, immediately to the left as you enter from the front door.

This cottage has ‘eyes.’ It’s a balcony to forever. Not only does it have fantastic potential, it’s positioned perfectly for a dramatic transformation. From what we’ve seen, it’s this summer’s dark horse. Taxes are $10,413. n