One of Portland’s First Streets

Story #4: On this spot in 1680, India Street became one of Portland’s first streets.

The base of India Street was one of the first European settlements in Portland. Well actually, Portland wasn’t even Portland at that point. It was known as Falmouth. 1680 marks the construction of Fort Loyal. In the 1700 and 1800’s India Street was the commercial center of Portland. I was known as King Street. India Street was the first home to many immigrant families due to its location next to the water and eventually the rail. In the words of Julie Larry, an architect with a focus on historic preservation, “India Street was always a transitional area between residential and commercial areas and it remains so today”. Julie grew up coming to The India Street Neighborhood on Saturdays for dinner with her family at The Village Café.

Click here to read “History of Portland’s India Street Neighborhood’