By Dakota Doyle
Early Settlement
The land now called “Prouts Neck” was discovered first by Natives. The Sokokis often used the peninsula to aid in their fishing along the coast. While there is not a specific known name for this area, Scarborough itself was referred to as “Owascoag” which generally translates to “land of much grass.” Europeans settled in the early 1600s, led by Samuel de Champlain in 1604. This led to the development of many names over the peninsula’s history. Ownership of the land passed through many families, leading to constant fluctuation.
Timothy Prout
Among the peninsula’s many owners was a local named Timothy Prout, who came from a line of Boston merchants who used the peninsula’s connection to the coast. Prout purchased the land from an old landowner named Joshua Scottow in the early 1700s and he died in 1798. Upon his death, his estate, which included the peninsula, was divided among his heirs. Throughout his long ownership, residents often referred to the area as “Prouts Neck,” solidifying the name in the history of the peninsula.
A Slight Change
Even though “Prouts Neck” was commonly established throughout the area as the name for the peninsula, it wasn’t an official title. The 1830s brought a change. After the Prouts departed, a large percentage of the land was bought by the Libby family. Though “Libby’s Neck” wasn’t an official title, it was sometimes used during this time. The Libby farmhouse often provided simple accommodations for fishermen, predating the many hotels, including the Checkley Hotel and the Black Point Inn. Eventually, like the Prouts, the Libbys sold the land and the “Libby’s Neck” name left with them.
Return of the Name
As time passed, the land changed hands often, resulting in a revolving door of names. Hotels built along the coast brought a new wave of summer vacationers and changed the peninsula deeply.
As the landowners turned to people who wanted to use the land as a summer retreat, the purpose and energy of the peninsula shifted. With this shift, a name was needed. Timothy Prout’s relatives had settled nearby and developed an extensive relationship with the area along Scarborough’s coast. Due to this, the name “Prouts Neck” made an ultimate return.
Community
This Scarborough peninsula is known for its picturesque rocky coastline and ocean views. There is a strong community dedicated to protecting and preserving these iconic things. In 1888, the Prouts Neck Association was organized as a nonprofit by members of the local community in order to invest in the future, to preserve the history, and to protect the land that makes the peninsula so iconic. This protection of the land allowed a community to form on the peninsula, with people coming to their summer houses and connecting through the Prouts Neck Country Club, which has a range of activities from tennis to golf.
Today
Even today, many in Scarborough know the name “Prouts Neck.” With memories of famous artists, like Winslow Homer, and landmarks like the Black Point Inn, the peninsula is an iconic reminder of Scarborough’s elaborate history, including all the people who have come and gone.
Even if you never know the twisting history of a place, know that someone who lived just as everyone else is living on through its name.
Many thanks to Dakota Doyle for researching and writing this piece. Dakota is a Scarborough High School student with a strong interest in both English and history; the former she hopes to study in college.
Photo: “Plan of Libby’s Neck with division for heirs of Thomas Libby. Made Aug 1879.” Lots were sold throughout the late 1800s, often as larger pieces. Courtesy of Prouts Neck Historical Society.
