Bath, Maine, Earns a 2012 "Great American Main Street" Award

Source: blog.preservationnation.org via Preservation Nation on Pinterest

Congratulations to Bath, Maine, for being chosen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a 2012 Great American Main Street Awards winner. The National Trust chose only five communities in the United States "whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization." Other winners include Culpepper,Va., Jacksonville, Ill., Valley Junction/West Des Moines, Iowa, and Washington, Mo.

I know it must have been a daunting task for the Preservation to choose towns and cities for this award, as so many communities in our great country have worked so hard to improve their downtown districts. Locally, I think of, in addition to Bath, Melrose, Mass., Wakefield, Mass., Bellows Falls, Vt., and Saco, Maine, as shining examples. That being said, I believe that Bath was a fine choice for this accolade. Last time, I visited in 2008, Bath really impressed me with its nice mix of stores and restaurants, and the renovated historic commercial buildings displaying good signage and American flags. There's clearly a pride of ownership element going on here.

As a sucker for the "Main Street USA" look, it was a revelation to see the independently-owned Wilson's Drug Store, Bath Book Shop, Bath Sweet Shoppe, the historic-looking J.R. Maxwell and Pub bringing and other local businesses bringing an appealing back-in-the-day look to downtown Bath. All in all,  it was really a pleasure to visit this revitalized downtown! I suppose that's what happens when there's a mandate for equal representation amongst Bath businesses, residents, and city government to improve its community. Every town and city should follow this model!

"It's the dedication behind the 'Main Street' team that really helped change Bath," said Samantha RickerGoad, the director's assistant at VisitBath. "The downtown has completely turned around from 10 years ago. The people here can be proud of where they live. We've always been known as the home of Bath Iron Works, which is very special, but I always knew it could be so much more...It's definitely the quintessential New England downtown."

As a kid in the 1970s, I remember a more different Bath. If my memory serves me correct, downtown Bath looked like any other gritty small industrial city. I didn't want to be here as a place to stop for lunch, especially after visiting beautiful Acadia National Park and Boothbay Harbor.

Now it's a different story in Bath. Although you can still see some gritty elements, I believe this works to Bath's advantage -- that is, the "roots" of this city remind us of the great shipbuilding industry while keeping the community from becoming just another gentrified, overly precious reclamation project. I look forward to seeing continue relevant, appropriate development in what is one of my favorite small cities in all of New England!

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The Clean Feel of Bath, Maine

Article and Photo by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com


Bath, Maine, might not have the glitz and high-profile personality of nearby, famous coastal Maine towns, but what it does have is the authentic heart and soul of a lively, proud community.

What was meant to be a "stop along the way" for lunch turned into an instant love for this mid-coast Maine city that resembles the small towns of yesteryear we so happily grew up in. Other towns like this have crumbled and lost their downtown and overall community spirit, but Bath seemed to have kept growing while still keeping its personality intact -- the small city version of the "Little Engine That Could."

Sort of like a Mayberry RFD by the coast, Bath is laid back, and has a friendly, active downtown with people who say "hello" to you (and mean it) and stores that could only be in the center of a community -- not in the strip malls that obnoxiously permeate our urban and suburban world. For starters, there's the old-time feel of Reny's Department Store with just about virtually everything under the sun for sale at low prices, an independent drug store called Wilson's, Bath Books with over 15,000 used and new books, Stantons for footwear, and Sweet Delights for pastries and handmade sweets. Bath also features many antiques stores that add to the flavor of this quaint, little city that feels more like a small town. Additionally, one can get a taste of the Maine Maritime culture and heritage at the Maine Maritime Museum. We did not get to go, but hope to spend a few hours there next time to get a further appreciation of this remarkable New England culture.

We ate at a historic, little restaurant called J.R. Maxwell's, where I had the most delicious crab melt sandwich with Swiss cheese and a very impressive mixed greens salad with an unbelievably great vinaigrette dressing. What impressed me most about Maxwell's was something you don't get at most restaurants: a real sense of history. The building that houses Maxwell's was built in 1840 and was once an elegant hotel. You can see its storied past in the fine wood design and moldings, in the ancient brick, and the nooks and crannies of the building. Maxwell's is not your typical place for a meal, and that is why we enjoyed coming here so much -- it's a revelation to have historical ambiance and great food all under one roof.

Right on the Kennebec River, Bath is a wonderful coastal town, made for walking and exploring. You get the refreshing, coastal aroma in your senses, and the presence of long time industry passing by the massive Bath Iron Works, famous since 1884 for shipbuilding (Bath is known as the :City of Ships') and now a highly secure area with a mission to design, build and support complex surface combatants.

We'll return to Bath soon. We only stayed a few hours, but that immediate, positive impression the moment we entered Bath guarantees we'll be spending many more minutes in this wonderful, little city.

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