The Scarborough Town Council has issued an important bulletin to the development world and a belated Christmas present to those of us Townies who have nothing better to do than to bemoan how things have changed in Scarborough since 1658, and why can’t we freeze-dry things, at least buildings.

The council has formed an Historic Preservation Committee.

It’s about time. Why?

Ever driven up Black Point Road, across the marsh, from the direction of St. Max Church, toward Route 1 at Oak Hill? If you did so in 2012 or before, you passed, on your right, going up the hill toward near Route 1, a majestic old Sea Captain-type home that housed an antique business (on and off for more than 40 years) called Widow’s Walk.

The name came from the small turret-type structure at the top of the three-story building. It was what my late mother would call a “sitting room” with windows in all directions. Legend has it that the Atlantic Ocean was visible from the room, and wives of sea captains through the years would go up there on days when their husbands were scheduled to arrive home, after days and days at sea, and hope to see the ships arriving in harbor. No ship arriving? Might be bad news. Thus, a new widow. Thus, the name…

Was any of this true? No idea.

Do I think it was true? Naaah.

Does the romanticist in all of us want it to be true? You bet.

Do many of us have a motive to peddle that story in our moaning and wailing about all the changes in Scarborough that come as the result of real estate and commercial development? Yup.

The Carolan family lived there when I was growing up in the l960s and 70s. Two great daughters, Missy and Betsy (Betsy is still around, and active in the town, both public spiritedly and professionally). I recall hearing that there once was, possibly, according to rumor, a gathering of students at the house, where, possibly, some liquids were partaken of (perhaps mistakenly) by high school students that were not designed, pursuant to Maine law, to be consumed by people under 18.

For my own part, I remember receiving the first NFL Betting Pool Card there in l971. I bet heavy on Johnny Unitas and the Colts to win. They did. I got $20 on my $2 entry fee on Monday. Wow.

Are there are buildings or sites worthy of preserving? Yes.

The Nonesuch Professional Building, near the South Portland line on Route 1, near the river. Once housed world-famous Humpty Dumpty potato chip factory. What today we recognize as the national childhood obesity epidemic was, back then, what teenagers did before video games. Save it!

Bessey School, Route 1. Served as Scarborough High School around World War I and World War II. The most elegant gym, with second-floor spectator balcony, since the movie “Hoosiers.” Where a generation of Scarborough basketball players learned to dribble too much, think shoot-first at all times, not follow their shots, and play enough defense not to be benched.

Scarborough Downs horse racing track. Ten years from now, it would be nice to have something in town that we could show people that was not: a) a fast food place; b) not a purveyor of goods or services invented in the last 20 years (e.g. tanning booth, nail salon, Thai or sushi restaurant; or medical/diagnostic testing establishment); and c) a place where there are things that are alive. And actually breathing? Not just “Internet live!”

Those are three spots. It’s a start.

Dan Warren is a Scarborough trial lawyer. He can be reached by private Facebook message on the Jones & Warren Attorneys at Law page, or by email at jonesandwarren@gmail.com.