Cool Doings

     

     

The Androscoggin Swinging Bridge

     Looking for cool places in Maine is my favorite pursuit. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s definitely good for your state of mind. Finding a sparkling river, an old-fashioned antique shop, a swinging bridge, a historical landmark, or for the truly daring, taking a ride on the Bath trolley, can stir your imagination and keep the winter blues away. I’m fairly certain if you look for an adventure in or around the City of Bath, you will find one, and it will lift your spirits!

A few weeks ago, Joe and I decided to go exploring. Our first stop was the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge in nearby Brunswick. I had walked across the wooden planks of this bridge for the first time last summer, and I promised myself that I would share it with Joe. I thought he would find its construction fascinating because he had just finished reading The Great Bridge by David McCullough. Based on his reaction, my hunch was right! The historic marker on the Brunswick side told us that this suspension bridge was built in 1892 by John A. Roebling’s Sons Company, the same engineering firm that built the Brooklyn Bridge over a fourteen-year period, completing it in 1883. Brunswick's engineering feat was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It was built to connect the Franco-American workers living in the Topsham Heights neighborhood with their work place across the river in Brunswick. In 1930, the Cabot Mill, a textile mill, employed 1,100 workers.

The Fort Andross Mill Complex 

Today the Cabot Mill has been rebranded the Fort Andross Mill Complex after the original pre-revolutionary fort built at the same site in 1688 to serve as a trading post for fur trappers and a garrison during King William’s War. In 1715, the stone fort was rechristened Fort George, and it served to protect settlers. Today the old fort is home to office suites, a cafe, a restaurant, an event space, and an antique store. Cabot Mill Antiques is a treasure chest of old books, maps, artwork, glassware, furniture and fixtures. After Joe took lots of pictures of the stunning view from the bridge, we went treasure hunting at this multi-dealer antique market, and we found an old sea chest with rope handles for our sun room. It's perfect for our space, and it adds a little mystery. Who were its previous owners, and what ships did it sail on to faraway ports? I love a good mystery, and that’s why I find antique stores so irresistible!

Bath's caroling trolley in merry December!

    I’m convinced the quickest way to find cool places in Bath, is not to take a boat ride; rather, take a ride on the caroling trolley. It’s almost as exciting as the midnight ride of Paul Revere! In November and December, Charlie, the driver and choral master, follows a roller-coaster route through the city. While the passengers sing, Charlie points out the coolest homes with the best light displays. He even stopped the trolley so the children could spy Santa putting presents under the tree. Because of the bus’s circuitous path, I cannot tell you exactly where that house was, but the owner had obviously covered the front window with a white screen to project a movie version of Santa delivering presents! Caroling on the trolley was hilarious! If you missed it, there’s always next year! Don’t be naughty and miss it twice!

Put on a hat, turn on the lights and make the season bright!

 The winter gets darker in other places, but it comes to light in Bath.  Without all of the holiday decorations, winter would seem longer. Truth be told, I’m already looking forward to Valentine’s Day when green trees and holly melt into pink flowers and red hearts, and all those shop windows along Front and Centre Streets shine their lights on romantic notions. Soon we’ll be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day and the arrival of spring, but for now it feels good to get together with friends in cozy places! 

           

The corner of Linden and Front is getting social

 The corner of Linden and Front is getting more social. After months of construction, The Salt Pine Social opened in time for the holiday season, and its good food and drink have made this sweet spot in Bath a place to gather and toast to good times ahead! Bathites are festive by nature, and I am truly grateful for their desire to socialize. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, Bath's Old-Fashioned Christmas hosted over 50 events, and Joe and I received more party invitations than we could accept. That's an extraordinary blessing! Bath is known as Maine's Cool Little City, but I think it has the feel of a small hometown. It also sustains a great tradition: New Year's Eve parties and New Year's Day gatherings. Joe and I were busy ringing in the new year! The best part of attending these gracious events was the opportunity to meet more of my neighbors.

As fate and Bath would have it, I met a retired doctor who reminded me of an older Dr. Kildare (Remember Richard Chamberlain?) or Dr. Marcus Welby (Remember Robert Young?) on New Year's Day. This Bath doctor captivated my interest by telling stories about practicing medicine at the Bath hospital that used to be located on Washington Street. Randomly, our

An early morning on Front and Grove Streets

conversation was sparked when I mentioned a blueberry-lemon loaf that I had purchased at Run With Soup. The doctor didn't know about this cozy cafe that now occupies what was once the local Emergency Room, but as soon as he made the connection, he started talking freely. Apparently, back in the day there were no emergency room doctors, so every doctor in town took a turn covering that specialty. Needless to say, those shifts were eventful and made for great stories. I also found out that Bath's "Dr. Kildare" wrote a book about his adventures in medicine called The Doctor's Suit, and it's available on Amazon. He uses a pen name which is neither Kildare nor Welby! I didn't have the courage to tell this great story teller that I was in the midst of finishing my first novel. Maybe next time.

Maine seems to bring out the artist in us all. Looking forward, one truth is certain: the best part of Maine is the people who care for it! In the early hours of the morning, Joe and I like to walk along the Kennebec, and every morning we say thank you for another day in a city where it's cool to be cozy.

Penny and the sea chest have found their cozy place