The Curse of the Saco River | Yankee Classic
Have you heard of the curse of the Saco River? An American-Indian legend foretells how every year three white people will drown in the Saco River.
By Judith Hansen|Oct 12 2021|
The Saco River in Conway, New Hampshire.
Photo Credit:Had I heard about the “curse of the Saco River” before I ventured onto it with my husband and our friends, I doubt that I would have gone on the outing. According to the legend, the wife and infant son of Squando, chief of the Saco tribe, were traveling by canoe near the mouth of the river when they encountered three rowdy, drunken English sailors. The sailors allegedly made a few bets, then snatched the baby from his mother and threw him into the river to see if American-Indian babies were natural swimmers as some claimed they were.
The mother rescued her baby, but he died a few days later. The grieving Squando, who was said to have great spiritual powers, put a curse on the Saco River, saying that every year after, three white people would drown in the river. Some historical accounts state that the death of Squando’s son, which is said to have occurred in 1675, marked the end of peaceful relations between the settlers and the American Indians living in that region.
Like many stories that have been passed down, the legend of the Saco River has multiple versions. One variation holds that the event took place near Limington, Maine, and the victim was a chief’s daughter. The maiden was supposedly kidnapped by three white settlers and carried off in a canoe; the girl fell out in the infamous “Limington Rips,” and her father placed a curse on the river.
Tad Baker, historian and archaeologist at the York Institute Museum in Saco (now the Saco Museum), offers a different perspective on the legend. Early historical accounts describe an incident on the Saco that led to an American-Indian baby’s death, but there is no mention of the curse until about 1880. Said Baker, “I think the legend of the curse might have sprung up, as some other legends did, during what we call the Colonial Revival era, when it was popular to romanticize events that took place in the Colonial period.”
Maybe so, but modern inhabitants of the region avow that on average three lives are lost on the Saco River per year, and they maintain a healthy respect for the curse. Old-timers recall hearing the legend told by parents and grandparents. Says Clarence Brown, 85, of Limington, “It was something we all knew about.”
Hiram historian Hubert Clemens also remembers hearing about the Saco River curse “ever since I was a young boy.” Among his files is a partial list of drownings near Hiram dating back to 1873 and an old “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” clipping about the legend in which the Saco is called “the River of Death.”
Precise and complete statistics of the drownings on the Saco do not exist. The river is 135 of so miles long and winds through several counties and numerous towns in New Hampshire and Maine before meeting the sea at Hills Beach, just below the city of Saco, Maine. And the legend dates back one to three centuries, depending on whom you ask.
One of the best local authorities on the subject may be Ruth Chaplin, a lifelong resident of Steep Falls, Maine, town librarian for 45 years, and reporter for the Portland Press Herald for 20 years. Chaplin recalls writing plenty of stories about drownings on the river. She says, “The curse has been carried out many, many years in drownings up and down the length of the Saco.”
I’m not sure why I didn’t become a statistic in April of 1973 when my canoe flipped on the Saco River, trapping me below it. Perhaps the spirits had not yet been roused for the season. Or maybe my accident occurred at a safe distance from the scene of the original tragedy. More than likely, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Caleb Hodgdon, deserves the credit. He married an Abenaki woman, thereby endowing his descendents with American-Indian blood — just a trace by now, but perhaps enough to save me from the Saco River curse.
Excerpt from “’The Curse of the Saco,” Yankee Magazine, May 1989.
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Hi, I just read The article on the curse of the Saco River, published on Facebook February 24. While the article was interesting, I was also drawn by the name of the author is great great great grandfather Caleb Hodgdon. I am a Hodgdon too, and I am interested in finding out if I am perhaps related to this author.
James – assuming this is the author. Good luck! https://www.facebook.com/judith.hansen.5682
Hi James,
This is a classic article from 1989, so I’m afraid we’re not in touch with the author at this time. Good luck with your search!
The story of Chief Squando and his son is the one that circulated in our family as far back as the early 1800’s. Our family line on my grandfathers side is part of the Nasons that settled the Whiterock, North Gorham area. We are also decendants from a local Native Indian tribe in that area. I have heard many of these stories that have been handed down from my grandfather and greatgrandmother. The History of the Sebago Region can be an interesting and rich read and study.
I just read this article and I grew up on the saco river at Limington rapids. One of my siblings did a report on the curse in high school. I also heard that an Indian baby drown on the river. I still swim there with my kids.
I had never heard this before, but our canoe with 3 people tipped over and like the author, I ended up trapped underneath it. What started out as a beautiful sunny October day back in the early 1980’s turned into a very cold and wet adventure that ended after darkness set in. Lost our extra clothing and shoes to the river. We had been told to get out at the covered bridge. What he neglected to say was to get out where the covered bridge “used to be”. Fortunately, it ended well and we have a story to tell.
If I recall correctly I knew a poor little boy who drowned in that river. Maybe 12-15 years ago. My memory is a bit foggy.
MY SON NEARLY DROWNED THERE. GOT SWEPT AWAY BY THE CURRENT. AGE 8 OR 9?
WE GRABBED HIM IN TIME, THOUGH.
It’s always been told to me that the white men drowned an Indian baby and that the Indians p ut a curse on the river that the river would take one life per year.
I went to St. Francis College (now UNE) in Biddeford, where the Saco joins the ocean, from 1979-1974. This legend was known and the curse was supposed to occur in October each year. In three of my 4 years there, someone from school died in October! Fact or fiction?…a very wonderful legend!
3 first born sons
None of us were around at this time , obviously , so we’re going by hear say , superstitious remarks , etc.
I love the history of this country but you have to realize we weren’t around at these times .
If your gonna live by speculations and tales from other people than your gonna take this to your grave . Just get out and enjoy life as it is . Have a great weekend and please drive safely .
I remember hearing of the curse as a small child. I also remember my mother had a police scanner and hearing year after year after year the river taking its lives. One life in particular was that of a small innocent little boy. His mothers name I think was Gloria not 100% sure I know he was a member of the Fog family. I heard the scanner buzzing with it. I knew of this little boy and it hit home hard . curse or not that River dose take its lives every year. There is a reason why it takes its lives every year or it would not continue to happen year after year after year.
My uncle Pete Nichos was drowned at Sebago Lake in Sacco Me. it was in the summer of 1963. He was a excellent swimmer, and was with a brother and a brother in law. He washed ashore about three days later. I was a junior in high school. At that time
I know this post was from a while ago, but Sebago Lake is no where near Saco. You may be thinking of Standish ME, which is on the shore of Sebago Lake. I am sorry about your Uncle though.
I use to swim in the Saco back in the 50’s in Biddeford at a place called the range behind the old city dump on south street. We used to jump off an old railroad abutment as young teenagers do. I missed one day and one of the kids drowned, scared the heck out of me and I never went back as I knew it had to be the curse.
Wow it’s been a while since I thought about my home town . Living in buxton , we’ all knew of the “curse” but we thought it was to keep us from jumping of the bridge or the rope swing . A lot of people got hurt from rope swing you had to plan the let go just right . Many parent cut the rope down , but it always seamed to get put back up .even though I have been away for some time know it’s always nice to reflect on the past . Thanks for the trip back home .
My Uncle Roland and his band Pard and the Countrymen recorded a song many years ago about the curse. He grew up in Saco. I still have a 45 of the song somewhere.
My mother feared the Saco River her whole life and always told us to stay away from it. Ironically, on July 17th 1979 my brother Daniel W Bolduc 19 years old drowned in the Saco River. He dove into the water on Whites Wharf which is on York Hill in Biddeford, Sad indeed,
Yes i remember the curse of the Saco river, it took the life of my Mothers Sister when she was young. i also was told of the curse by my Parents when i was young. can be a very dangerous river. i also lived in Saco.
I had a cousin that died in the Saco River 61 years ago in a Coke truck that rolled backwards downhill into the Saco. My Dad was also Coke driver and they mistakenly notified my Morher that my father had drowned . Both she and my cousin’s wife were pregnant at the time . Took a long while to find his body. I found a piece of hardened bread in her things before she died, and asked what the heck was the piece of bread about . She told me rhat because they were unable to find his body right away, they had a Priest bless piece of bread and set it in the Saco where the truck went in. I was told the bread floated to the location of where the body had drifted because of the extreme current and that’s how they were able to locate the body. She had saved that bread for approximately 50 years . She swore it was true story., and she was a very devout Catholic. My cousin’s name was Raynald Brulotte..
I am from Scarborough, but lived on South st. in Biddeford with my three sons for many years. I don’t remember the first time i heard of it, but knew about it when my boys were swimming there in summers. I never took it very seriously until some young children from across the river, in Saco, were ice skating and fell throughthe ice and were rushed away in the current…
Two were sons of the man who dove in trying to save the children. He did manage to save only one very small little girl, but others were lost. I was sick for days n days about it. Our Christmas that year was somber, and we moved away before swim season came again…we also carry Abinaki blood, and i am greatful that my sons never had a mishap in that accursed place.
I grew up in Saco and knew of the curse since I was very young through my native Abnaki mother and grandmother. In the early 80’s I was a new Mom living along the river and within 2yrs a little 18mo old baby boy drowned in the river and my neighbors sister lost 2 young son’s when they fell through the ice. My own daughter has had 2 close calls while swimming in the Saco river. Water is very powerful and will always claim it’s victims.
Ok here is the story first the story about the curse i heard on a 45 record when i was a teen that said three white men came to the tribe along the river and told them babies can swim when they are born and they threw the baby into the water to prove it, the baby was drowning and the Indian women jumped into save her baby and as she her self was drowning she put the curse on the Saco river that three white men would drown each year! Now for a story of my own experience in the river I always swam in the river since i lived next to if most of my life growing up, one day I was a teen and my friend Roger and my older sister Vicki was already on the rock island under the bridge we jumped off, I dove off and started to swim to the rock island. I was under the water and saw a yellow glowing blob coming toward me, so i freaked out and swim faster than ever to the rock and climbed up on to the rock huffing and puffing not saying anything to Roger or Vicki. They both turn to look at me and say what is that glowing all around you? TO this day I think it was the curse and I think the only reason it didnt take me is because I’m part Indian. (Shoshone Indian).
I grew up on the Saco River n Saco and swam at the ‘bulky’ across from Rotary Park. I believe in the curse because on the day I was born in 1959 my father cancelled his plans to go fishing. The three men he was supposed to go with drowned down by Irving Street n Saco.
I grew up believing this.On my mothers side of the family is Indian.My moms cousin drowned in the Saco river.I almost drowned when I was around 10 years old.I believe it to be true.
I grew up near the Saco River as well. And as a child and up to this day at the age of 55. I do in deed believe in the curse on the river. I remember riding in the back seat of a car, looking out the window, looking for a body to float by. Year after year, someone would say, did you hear someone drowned in the river Today? Then one day it really hit home. I had a baby boy, Joey. And we had a babysitter named, Mindy L, and she was a victim of that awful river.
I remember Mindy L from Bonny eagle. She was in my class of 86. It was such a horrible shock. Very sad. In 2016, we had a reunion and had a table with 5 classmates who’ve passed on. Mindy Libby was a nice girl. We lit a candle for her as well as the others in their honor.
She use to babysit my son
I have heard this legend and all ages have drown in Saco River. I was raised & lived in Saco. I have swan, skated, fished, rowed a boat etc. I saved a friend of mine from the swift current of the Saco River across from old blacksmith & Saco Junk Yard on Water St. back in the 40’s. We have ( my friends) had a couple close calls walking on ice. One would get a chill when the ice cracks under your boots & to the sound of the cracking. I know live in Ft Worth, Tx but visit to Saco every year. We really enjoy the Yankee Mag.
I grew up on the Biddeford side of the Saco River; after marriage I moved to CT…but on one awful day in June of 1972 I received a phone call from family in Biddeford telling me my brother, Patrick Bordage had drowned in the River. I had always heard of the curse and there it was in my life. My mother could actually see all the ambulance and police action from her porch on Clifford Street, not realizing they were attending to her son.
Carol H.
Was your brother, Patrick Bordage a first born son?
My brother, Sheldon Côte (first born son) died on the Saco river in April 1972.
I’ve always heard the curse of the Saco river was 3 first born sons would drown every year.
Around 1982-3 a group of scouts were up river on a canoe trip. I believe they put in around Fryeburg, since it was the most popular spot and still is. From what I remember, someone drowned and I believe it was the scoutmaster. One afternoon while fishing with my father found a paddle and took it home. It wasn’t until much later that we realized it was from the same troop. The troop number was scratched into it. We used it that year and the following year I was canoeing in April in the little ossippee river, which feeds into the Saco. The friend I was with had trouble in the fast current, we lost control of the canoe, went over a waterfall of about 10 feet, due to the spring run off. I went under and got caught under a rock. The canoe was sideways spinning above me at the bottom of the falls. I pushed off the rock and it popped me to the surface. The gunnel of the canoe whacked the back of my head and numbed me good. I floated a couple hundred yards and managed to get out badly banged up. My friend was banged up as well. The canoe ripped around the middle on the rocks and waves. The paddle was long gone and headed back to the Saco river. It’s like the river summoned it back. Nearly lost my life at age 17. Made me think that the paddle was still under the curse and I was the messenger delivering back.
The section of the Little Ossipee your are speaking about should never, under any circumstances, be paddled by anyone. Not doable. Not safe.
We use to live on Chases Mill Road in Limington. 68-77. My father, when we first moved up there. Cleared out a space to swim in. Each time he would clear out, about 5 places to swim. And we swim and play around in a rubber raft. Going up and down where the Little Ossipee met with the Saco river. And being young always had a great time in our built in swimming pool. And we knew about the curse.
Your story about the scoutmaster drowning is a bit of a stretch. I know the real story. A local scout troop trekked into Walker’s Falls in Denmark (right next to Fryeburg) during a winter outing to learn snow camping. There was an AMC campground with lean-tos at the Falls in which they were going to camp for a weekend. The scoutmaster, who was a neighbor of my family and was getting on in years, had a heart attack at the Falls after trudging a couple of miles through deep snow into the Falls. Sadly, he didn’t make it. Since, the story has morphed into him drowning after falling out of a canoe at the Falls, which can be dangerous in the Spring floods. However, the story you heard and have related here is likely just someone twisting the truth a bit to fit the legend and scare some kids. I was just a little kid when it happened, but I remember it well. Years of eating red meat and bacon, not a Sokokis curse, brought about his demise.
My cousin drowned in this river in 1983 Everett Stewart he was 2 years old and I was 4. Our family has long been plagued by the Saco River and the demons around the area. We are doing some research and are in dire need of this Record if anyone can find a way for us to hear the song it would be a great help.
My uncle Roland is Pard of Pard and the Countrymen.
I have the record and have a digital copy of both sides. I was the bass player in the band when it was recorded.
Interesting read. If anyone knows of any people who claim to be spiritually cursed by entities, spirits, and/or other spiritual forces please contact me directly at: theghostgurus@gmail.com
Thanks!
My mother and whole family is from Saco & Biddeford Maine. My whole life I’ve heard about my two great uncles we’re on the river both were wearing life preservers and one I believe in the 50s was getting ready to do his second or third trial for the Olympic swim team. Both passed away. My mother would probably know their names in the year it happens better than I would…But whatever you may think they both died on the Saco river. My aunt would actually know to she’s a vice principal still in Saco.
I don’t think there are many locals who haven’t heard the story are variations of the story throughout the years! Story that I have I heard was that supposedly Indian babies can swim from birth 3 drunken white man in a canoe coming down the river close to where the dam is now between Saco and Biddeford used to be a waterfall I heard the baby and mother wear out that day and the white man saw them and toss the baby off the top the waterfall the mother jumped in to save the child and they both drowned then the chief cast The Curse over the Saco River cleaning three white men shall die every year after, however there’s been so many stories throughout the years that who knows what’s true. But regardless Carson not currents and undertows a strong and there regardless of what part of the river or what river in the United States as well as throughout the world for that matter people drowned. Anything that can take out buildings wash away rock walls Etc is stronger than us and should not be taken lightly!
Our neighbor’s son was a victim of the Saco river. We lived in Steep Falls and the Joneses lived across the street from us. I believe his name was Scott. He was found underneath a submerged log in the river near the Steep Falls bridge. There were many old logs there as there were log drives there many years ago to feed the mill past the bridge. I remember his mother Judy was a volunteer on the rescue unit when divers found him. Very, very sad for the Jones family and our community.
I grew up in Biddeford and always jumped off the Pine st bridge, and swam the the large rock under the bridge. One day my sister and my friends were standing on the large rock under the bridge talking while I jumped off the bridge, and was swimming under the water. When I saw this large glowing ball of light coming towards me, I surfaced, and swam as fast as I could to the large rock, then climbed on the rock. My friend and sister turned and looked at me, and said what is that glowing light around you? I was freaked out at first, then remembered the curse, and thought ok maybe since I have some indian in me the curse let me live!
I grew up at the limington bridge and swam there every summer as a kid. I can remember back as far back as 9 or 10 years old. My parents let me go with neighborhood friends walk down rt 25 bare foot swim all day tube the rapids etc. Almost drowned twice. Ice skated behind my house on little ossipee river until my parents found out and freaked! My friend Michelle and i could have had very bad days but fortunately our adventures always brought us back home. The curse was always on our minds back then and still are. Unlike our parents back then I would never let my young child have that freedom. We were very lucky kids back then. So many good memories of Limington Rapids.
When I was about 7 or so my parents ran the canal bridge campground in fryeburg and I was swimming there at the beach and nearly drowned one day. I’m pretty skeptical of stories such as this curse and I’m not very superstitious but if people claim that it’s true it must be but I have <4% native American heritage so that could have saved me from the curse.
My grandfather’s brother drowned I the Saco river in Biddeford by Indian island in the year 1899. I saved a friend from drowning in the river @Rotary Park, summer of 1973 when I was 13 years old. My brother skipped school one day in middle of winter and took a walk on the ice and broke through. The only thing that saved him is he naturally held his arms straight out so he wouldn’t go under. He could feel the current and luckily it wasn’t that fierce that day, but it was a strong current. With all his might and prayer, he managed to pull himself out. I believe@ least 3 white men die in the river each year. Also children, girl/boy+ some woman do also in some years. But ALWAYS 3 WHITE MEN. Some DO make it out safely. But every year you can count on at least 3 white men are on that list.
Great reading about Saco River. Thank You
summered growing up swimming tubing et al in the Saco in North Conway NH..normally pretty sedate, but saw pics of a very spring flooded area and summer storms could bring flash flooding. What I recall was the clarity of the river..and after being absent from it for years, found the fresh waters very cathartic and comforting upon return..respect ANY waterway…they are not discerning
I was very interested in the curse of the Saco river article
I was on a band out of Portland years ago when some friends and the band members started the inner tube race at the Limington rapids, no one perished but we had a great time every year.