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Thornton Academy
438 Main St.
Saco, Maine, 04072
(207) 282-3361
STORY BY ERIK RYDER & MATT GALASYN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATE JOHNSTON, ERIK RYDER & MATT GALASYN
PAGE DESIGN BY NATE JOHNSTON & ERIK RYDER
"I'm just a merchant on Main Street," says Mark Johnston. "I work everyday, get up at eight in the morning, come to work and leave at 9 PM, thirteen hours later."
The thirteen-hour shifts Mark Johnston works now are a far cry from the hours he worked when he first started his "Vic & Whit's" sandwich at the age of 19.
"We used to open at six in the morning and close around twelve or one at night, then go out and party. This was when we were young and then we would come back to work."
Although the late nights have been toned down a bit, at the age of 50 Mark Johnston shows no signs of slowing down.
Born in Trull Hospital in Biddeford on November 26, 1951, Mark Johnston was the son of Dennis and Rose Johnston and brother of Dale. "My parents were hard workers. There was a close relationship with my mother, but not my father. My mother raised my brother and me by herself. She taught me to work hard and to look into the future and hopefully things will get better."
The bond he shared with his brother was one shared by many brothers. "We were always fighting, but if anyone else picked on us we were always there to protect each other. We're both busy business owners, but we still see each other occasionally. He lives in Saco down off the Ferry Road."
His parent's strong work ethic forced them to miss some of the important events in his youth.
"My earliest memory was going to school in Kindergarten. I was by myself because my mother was working. All the other parents were there with their kids. I did it by myself." His first day of Kindergarten was only the beginning of a very independent life-style.
By 1962 the Cold War was at its peak and Mark was feeling its full effect during his school day.
"Getting up in the morning and watching TV with the Today show. The news focused on the Kennedy blockade, Cuba and the Russians were getting ready to go to war with the United States. I remember waking up and watching the news and showing nuclear missiles coming out of the silos and being aimed at Cuba and Soviet Union. They spoke about the possibility of nuclear missiles in Cuba and where they would hit on the Eastern seaboard and Portland, Maine was one location. That made an impact. We got out of school early, practiced tuck and duck that was basically getting under our desk and listening to the civil-defense sirens. Little yellow aluminum signs popped up on the school exterior saying civil defense on them, telling us that's where we go if we are under attack. Getting out of school the radios had absolutely no music. They basically (talking about radio test) early morning radio tests in 1962 weren't just a test all the radios were telling us what to do."
After Thornton Academy Mark Johnston attended the University of Maine at Portland, but only stayed until his sophomore year. "My ambitions were to go to Berkeley. I was accepted to Berkeley but my mother couldn't afford that so I stayed here in Saco and opened up a little sandwich shop. The intent was just for it to be a seasonal job and it became a money-maker. I had started Vic and Whit's at 19 with my girlfriend at the time who eventually became the wife."
As the sixties drew to a close The Vietnam War was in full swing across the Pacific and Mark Johnston was doing his part by protesting the war.
"It (Vietnam War) was a mistake. It was a civil war, and we had no right to be involved in a civil war especially supporting a corrupt government who basically had no concern about the civil rights of their own people." Johnston recalls the anti-war movement in Southern Maine.
"It was large, churches were involved. In those days during the demonstrations you would get arrested and all you had to do was post bail of $5, never even had to show up again. It was just an opportunity for the government to pick up some loose change."
Being an owner of a store and father of three, Mark Johnston still had more ambitions to satisfy. "I wanted to be mayor since I was a first grader."
Serving four terms Mark Johnston served the longest period as mayor in Saco's history. He looks back at his time in office proud of his accomplishments.
"We took Maine Energy to court and were successful in showing that they did do environmental damage to Biddeford and Saco. We were awarded 4.5 million dollars from Maine Energy and 4.5 million dollars from General Electric. Mayors always have public projects that they're always happy for saying 'I did.' I know the current mayor will take credit for it, but the railroad station started in 1991 under my administration because it was originally going to go to Biddeford, but I found a better location. The Industrial Park was one, the restoration of city hall, all the brick sidewalks downtown, all the side streets downtown being built, a new police station, and raising taxes only eighty cents in my eight years."
After his departure from the mayoral position in, he still holds high favor with the residents of Saco. In the last election the former mayor received 10% of the votes on write-in nominations.
"The problem with being Mayor in Saco is that salary is only $2,000 a year. High school coaches get more than that. When you think about it, you only pay your mayor $2,000 year for a 24-hour job, and you have a 30 million dollar budget with a part time mayor, I think the city's priorities are wrong. Mayors can really screw up towns."
Now back to working full-time at the helm of Vic and Whit's, Johnston still has strong opinions on ways to improve the Saco community.
Johnston worries that Saco schools do not give enough support to students beyond the top ten to twenty percent of each class. He has concerns that kids whose strengths are not in academics might get lost in the shuffle.
In the former mayor's opinion, Saco's other main problem lies in the new deal with MERC created by the present administration.
"They (Saco administration) have gotten in bed with MERC. They think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. They are acting like they're already defeated before they actually got to the table to negotiate. That plant was made for 75,000 tons of waste. Under the new proposed contract it would be allowed to handle 312,000 tons of waste. There were 45 trucks were used daily in 1987, and we're now talking about 145 trucks a day, with 68% of the trash being from out of state. Basically we're now taking in Biddeford and Saco, as well as having trash as far south as Hartford, CT coming to Saco. Eight pounds of mercury and lead are dumped on us on annual basis."
Even Mark Johnston's 18-year-old son Nate is aware of the health risks that MERC is causing. "They (Biddeford-Saco community) wonder why the cancer rate is so high in the area," Nate says.
Johnston hopes when people look back at his life they recognize his honesty, his hard work, and how he was goal oriented. As for advice to the younger generation Mark Johnston leaves these words.
"Question authority, because if you don't question government or anyone in power they get lax and they think the reason they are here is to control you and that's not the case. Government is here like administrators in school. They are there to assist you, not to hold you back."
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