By Toby Brissett

[Photo: Members of the Libby family at the sign unveiling. Photo courtesy of Scarborough Police Department.]

At first glance, Libby Corner might just seem like any other busy intersection in Scarborough. However, if you have a quick eye as you pass through the intersection, you’d see a brightly colored sign stating that you are traversing “Libby Corner.”  And this spot at the junction of Gorham and Payne Roads notes the legacy of the Libby family, one of the earliest to settle in the area.

It started roughly four hundred years earlier when John Libby arrived in New England in 1636, part of a wave of English settlers looking to build a life in the new world. After fulfilling his work contract on Richmond Island, he moved inland and over time, his family grew, acquiring land and helping to shape what is now Scarborough. Of course, like most early arrivals the Libbys endured King Philip’s War, property destruction, and two of John’s sons tragically lost in the chaos. But, being New Englanders, they did what New Englanders do best – stuck it out and rebuilt.

Libby Corner was an intersection way back when, and became an important stop for travelers, as the family ran a stagecoach weigh station there for decades. This wasn’t just a place to pass through—it was a hub of early Maine life, where people stopped, rested, and continued their journeys. The Libbys lived on this land for nearly 280 years, occupying three of the four corners at the intersection. Even when the landscape began to change, their presence remained strong, with family members residing there until 1980s.

Despite such a rich history, Libby Corner didn’t have an official marker until 2021, when the town of Scarborough, with the help of the Libby family and the Scarborough Police Department (special thanks to then-Community Resource Sgt. Steve Thibodeau), installed a sign recognizing the area’s significance. In the process, they initiated an effort towards noting other historic sites, while making sure this small but meaningful piece of local history wasn’t lost.

Today, you’ll still see traces of the Libby name—not just on the sign, but at places like Len Libby Candies, home to the famous chocolate moose, Lenny. And beyond the sweet treats, the history of Libby Corner serves as a reminder of Maine’s early settlers and the families who shaped the towns we live in today.

So, the next time you pass through Libby Corner, take a moment to appreciate the history beneath your wheels. It’s more than just an intersection—it’s a piece of Scarborough’s past, still standing at the crossroads of Maine’s story.

Toby Brissett is a freelance writer with over 25 years of experience. Learn more at http://www.wordsandideas.com.