Cochrane's Gem of Monmouth: Cumston Hall and its Community History

with Dennis Price from Cumston Hall

Saturday, May 6 at 11:00 AM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Cumston Hall in Monmouth, Maine is a masterwork of craftsmanship and artistry combined in an enduring architectural landmark. Since 1900, Cumston Hall has welcomed graduations, galas, parties, theater, music, singing, lectures, and more! This walk will lead followers around the grounds of Cumston Hall with exterior views and information, and then inside the Hall for an extensive historical tour of the interior. History, architecture, and anecdote all in one tour. Learn how community, commerce, and artistry all contributed to this legacy building.

Accessibility: There is a paved lot around the building and accessible entry by elevator on all levels of the house.

Starting and ending point: Cumston Hall

 

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Create Your Own Museum in the Streets of Stonington

with Linda Nelson and Kathleen Billings from Town of Stonington and Stonington Main Street

Saturday, May 6 at 11:30 AM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Get the inside scoop on Maine's #1 Port! The Streets of Stonington are a living museum with a vibrant present that embody the major principles of Jane Jacobs and the global challenges of our times. Join a diverse group of six official speakers and walk participants as we create a living "Museum in the Streets" of information and stories in a 90-minute walk. We'll start with the ghost of Stonington's last sardine factory and describe the many important buildings no longer with us, as well as the histories and futures of five additional points along Main Street and Maine's most productive fishing harbor. Gain new insight on the Town's history of granite and immigration at its newly revived Granite Museum; discuss the strengths and challenges of mixed use development at the Tewksbury Building, home to the Harbor Cafe and multiple workforce apartments; learn about the powerful charitable legacy of the International Order of Odd Fellows and the future for its waterfront building; and finish the walk at the 1912 Stonington Opera House, a fully restored, functioning theater on the National Register of Historic Places with refreshments and an expansive view back across Stonington harbor. Added bonus: a possible film on Jane Jacobs at the Opera House! Your stories, questions, and ideas are encouraged as we bring history to life in these vital intersections of past and future.

Accessibility: The route is accessible. Access to the Opera House is accessible via special vehicle parking.

Starting point: Between 13 Atlantic Avenue and Stonington Lobster Coop #2

Ending point: Stonington Opera House

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Portland's Gorham's Corner Reimagined

with Cary Tyson from Portland Downtown and Portland Trails

Saturday, May 6 at 12:00 PM - UPDATED TIME!

Estimated duration: One hour

Gorham's Corner was the center of a predominantly Irish working class community. The neighborhood originated when the Irish became the first large non-English group in Portland. Over 500 Irish immigrants came during Black '47, the year of the famine in Ireland. Over time, this area has become an intersection that's challenging to navigate. Our walk will focus on some suggested changes to the area as noted below and highlight both the history of the area as well as the urbanism issues of the space and downtown Portland. This project is designed as a temporary, low-cost test of a concept to re-configure historic Gorham’s Corner to function better and be more attractive. The goals of the project are to provide a safer, more accessible and more welcoming corner for all users, to test the concept before investing in a more costly full build-out, and to demonstrate the benefits of Public/Private/Non-profit partnerships.

Accessibility: This walk follows sidewalks and will be accessible with wheelchairs and strollers.

Starting and ending point: The intersection of York Street and Center Street

 

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com

Bricks & Mortar in an Amazon World

with Kiara Frischkorn and Delilah Poupore from Heart of Biddeford

Saturday, May 6 at 12:00 PM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Stroll with us through downtown Biddeford and meet the people behind storefront facades. Hear first-hand about the joys and challenges of doing retail live and in person with the community. You'll meet business owners and get a personalized tour of the retail scene that's blossoming here.

Accessibility: Not all locations will be accessible (e.g., there may be a step to enter a business).

Starting and ending point: Heart of Biddeford

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

A Walk Through Time in Historic Downtown Van Buren

with Dayton Grandmaison from Friends of the Gayety Theatre

Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Van Buren is a historic St. John Valley town that was settled around 1790 by French-speaking Acadian refugees. They were later joined by French-Canadian settlers and Anglo-American settlers. For many years, Van Buren was a thriving mill town and the community was home to a small college for more than 30 years. In the 1950s, Van Buren boasted numerous stores and three movie theatres! Things have changed, but much of Van Buren's rich history remains . . . And it's time to share and explore that history. We'll be taking a leisurely walk through downtown Van Buren with several local historians, and we'll be stopping at 8 to 10 spots to talk, to share information and anecdotes, and probably to ask questions (questions from the public will be welcome). A videographer will accompany us to record everything, both for further research efforts and for posterity. After the walk, we hope to have an informal gathering at a local establishment to continue our chat and to share refreshments (which may not be provided free-of-charge).

Accessibility: The entire walking route will be a fairly-short section of Main Street in downtown Van Buren. There are no steps on the route; it is mostly very-level terrain (there are several corner curbs on the route, but those curbs should be accessible otherwise).

Starting point: The intersection of Main Street and Franklin Street

Ending point:

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Forest Bathing Walk

with Eric Blasco from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy

Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Forest Bathing or Nature Therapy Walks are a slow, immersive, explorations of the natural world around us. You will not need to bring a towel or bathing suit! The term Forest Bathing–Shinrin Yoku in Japanese–refers to bathing in the essence of the forest, or whatever natural area you are in. It is a sensory walk, or better yet, a guided wander with the natural world around us. Forest bathing promotes our own mental and physical health and healthy relationships with the lands that we live on. We will explore our senses and interact with the wooded part of Deering Oaks Park across from King Middle School, next to the Portland Farmers Market summertime location. We may wander a little bit, but this is not a vigorous hike. We encourage comfortable shoes, appropriate outdoor dress (bring layers), water, and perhaps a pad or camp chair to sit on.

Accessibility: There are paved paths for those in wheelchairs.

Starting and ending point: Deering Oaks Park at the corner of Deering Avenue and Park Street

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Walking on Coals: Farmington's Great Fire of 1886

with Jane Woodman and Layne Nason from Farmington Historical Society

Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM

Estimated Duration: 90 minutes

In 1857, Farmington was described thus by a visitor: "A stranger...cannot but be struck with the evidences of prosperity everywhere manifested. Nearly every dwelling and grounds are ornamented...There are no dilapidated front fences or gardens overgrown with weeds. There seems to be no second class. Mechanics live in as good style as merchants and lawyers, dress as well and no doubt know as much.." On October 28, 1886, at 2:45 PM a fire was discovered in a barn near the Sandy River Railroad tracks. It was thought to have been put out but sparks had been scattered by the wind. More buildings caught fire through the night and by the time it was over, 33 houses, 19 stores, three churches, two hotels, the post office, courthouse, the jail, and much of the town had been destroyed. We will start at Meetinghouse Park with a display of photos of the town before the fire and the town in ashes. We will walk the route the fire travelled through town and point out what was miraculously spared. As we go along, we'll stop here and there to describe the rapid rebuilding of the town and its interesting and varied architecture. When we return to the Park, refreshments will be available.

Accessibility: The bandstand at Meetinghouse Park is not wheelchair accessible but all the sidewalks in the park and on the route are ramped.

Starting and ending point: Meeting House Park

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

The East Side: Then and Now

with John O'Connell from Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation

Saturday, May 6 at 1pm

Estimated duration: One hour

Boothbay Harbor's history starts with the arrival of fishermen attracted by the bounty of the sea. For hundreds of years fishing was the primary occupation along with the related boatbuilding industry. The East Side of the harbor was the focus of much of this activity. This walking tour on Atlantic Avenue from the Footbridge to the Fishermen's Memorial Park is only a few hundred yards yet is packed with history, stories, changes and scenery. We will start near the Footbridge, which is being rebuilt, then walk to our Waterfront Park and finish up at the Memorial Park.

Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation has purchased the former Cap'n Fish's Motel and restaurant, formerly Atlantic Boat Works, and is now in the process of converting it into a public park, marina and working waterfront. This effort to preserve working waterfront and public access is an essential counterweight to the major development pressure being experienced all along the beautiful coast of Maine.

There will be a number of guides/narrators many of whom have long term connections with the East Side. They will explain the fishing and boatbuilding history and locations. Then an eclectic mix of potato chip factory, barbershop/candy store, art school and studios, grocery, luxury hotel, saw mill, fertilizer factory and more. Also a small ice pond and the visit of JFK to the Catholic Church. There will be lots of opportunity for discussion.

Accessibility: No special considerations but reasonably accessible.

Starting point: 31 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor at Footbridge

 

Ending point: 82 Atlantic Avenue at Fishermens Memorial Park, across from Catholic Church

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Get to know your Main Street

with Angie Presby from Saco Main Street, Dyer Library, and Saco Museum

Saturday, May 6 at 1:30pm

Estimated Duration: 90 Minutes

Saco is full of rich history when it comes to the buildings on it's Main Street. This 90 minute walk will include a history lesson on when some of the iconic buildings were built, and the stories behind them. Join us as we have instant access to the historic photos the museum will share on our phones, as we look back in time at the same location in its current state.

Accessibility: We will be on the sidewalk the whole route.

Starting point: Saco Museum/Dyer Library parking lot

 

Ending point: Saco Museum/Dyer Library parking lot

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Victoria Mansion in Context: Forces of Change and Continuity in a Beautifully-Preserved 19th-Century Neighborhood

with Tim Brosnihan and Ann O’Hagan from Victoria Mansion

Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 PM

Estimated Duration: 90 minutes

Built between 1858 and 1860, Victoria Mansion is widely recognized as one of the best-preserved houses of it period in the nation. Widening the lens a bit, we find that the building sits within one of the most intact and elegant 19th-century neighborhoods in the City of Portland. In this focused, single-block tour of the Mansion’s surroundings, we’ll discuss the forces of both preservation and change that have shaped the streetscapes we see today. We’ll also discuss near misses, from the great fire of 1866 to urban renewal efforts of the mid-20th century, which skirted the neighborhood but ultimately passed it by unscathed. Participants will gather in front of Victoria Mansion, on the corner Park and Danforth Streets. On-street parking includes two handicapped-accessible parking spaces immediately adjacent. The walk will proceed clockwise around the block, from Park to Pleasant to High Streets and then back to Victorian Mansion on Danforth. Time allowing, we’ll wind up on Victoria Mansion’s back lawn for a conversation about four decades of intensive conservation and restoration work on this National Historic Landmark.

Accessibility: The approximately half-mile walking route centers on small residential streets surrounding the Mansion that are primarily comprised of historic brick sidewalks. There is also a considerable incline in one direction as you climb the hill from Danforth Street. Victoria Mansion is about a five-minute walk from the High Street stop on the Metro Route 1 Congress Street bus. Free on-street parking includes two handicapped-accessible parking spaces immediately adjacent to the property at the corner Park and Danforth Streets. A bike rack is available on the property.

Starting and ending point: Victoria Mansion

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Theaters of Portland's Past

with Lucy Hannington and Torie Levesque from Greater Portland Landmarks

Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 PM

Estimated duration: 75 minutes

A stroll along a few blocks of Congress Street (with a some slight diversions) will be a trip back in time to explore the numerous theaters that dotted Portland's main street. With historic photos showing what used to be, we'll encounter the end of vaudeville and the proliferation of silent film, as well as the rise and fall of the studio system. Fun surprises include (but are not limited to) roller rinks, 3D movies, a proliferation of pornography and the revitalization of iconic structures. For a city so far removed from Hollywood, there's a surprising amount of film history to be found here!

Accessibility: The entire route will be city sidewalks with curb cuts at intersections.

Starting point: The intersection of Congress Street and Park Street

Ending point: Lobsterman Park, Temple Street

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Stroudwater: the Other Port in Portland!

with Jim Stenberg from Stroudwater Neighborhood Association and the Tate House Museum

Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 PM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

Stroudwater village of Portland, is now considered a quiet neighborhood off the peninsula and away from the coming and going of ships. That was not true throughout most of its history. Stroudwater was a major part of the seafaring past of Portland, starting as a location for native people's fishing activity and leading to its use as a shipping center for the kings masts in colonial times. Unknown to most of its current residents, a large number of ships were built and launched here in the 18th and 19th century and a unique canal, used for commerce before trains arrived, passed through our village joining Portland to Sebago Lake and beyond. Of course, one cannot ignore that history has come full circle since we have been home to the Portland Jetport beginning in the 1920's. This roughly 90-minute Jane's Walk will begin and end in front of the 1755 Tate House Museum on Westbrook street at 2PM on Saturday May 6. We will make five (or so) stops and hear a portion of this history at each one, we would love to hear your memories and questions as well. Our goal is to give a glimpse of the amazing water, land, and human resources that shaped our village and bring us together as a community. Parking can be found in front of the Tate House or on Waldo St. The Tate House museum will be open for guided tours after the walk and will offer 1/2 price tour tickets to those who would like them. The tickets can be used then or at any later time they are open. A PDF presentation with photos and maps will be available the day of the walk.

Accessibility: The walk will be on or very near the paved road. Park on side streets and/or in lots on Congress Street. Public transit is available near the starting point of the walk.

Starting and ending point: Tate House Museum parking lot

 

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Exploring the historic Middle of Middle Road & the Middle of Parsonsfield in the Middle 1800's

with Lyn Sudlow and Sylvia Pease from Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society

Saturday, May 6 at 2:30 PM

Estimated duration: One hour

This walk will begin at the parking lot of the Parsonsfield Old Town House (which is on the National Register of Historic Places) on Merrill Hill Road and will start with a short downhill to Middle Road. We will see the one-room schoolhouse that sat across the road from Rufus McIntire's own home and view the site of the stately McIntire home which burned down in 1939. We will walk past the Dalton House (also on the National Register of Historic Places) before retracing our steps to see what was once the center of town. On the walk back to the Old Town House, those who wish can peak inside the iconic Union Church across the road from the Town House and see the unique interior of the Town House built in 1832. And those who wish can also explore the cemetery adjacent to the Town House where Rufus McIntire and other Parsonsfield notables now rest.

Accessibility: Much of what we will be talking about will be visible from the corner of Merrill Hill and Middle Roads and so not that much walking will be required. The Parsonsfield Old Town House does have a ramp and a small step.

Starting and ending point: Parsonsfield Old Town House on Merrill Hill Road near the intersection with Middle Road

 

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

The People of Ellsworth’s Past, Present and Future

with Cara Romano from Heart of Ellsworth and Nancy Smith from GrowSmart Maine

Saturday, May 6 at 3:00 PM

Estimated Duration: One hour

GrowSmart Maine and Heart of Ellsworth are collaborating to create the 2nd annual Janes Walk event downtown in Ellsworth. Walk the downtown district while learning about the people who shaped Ellsworth’s past and how they have influenced our collective identity as Ellsworthians. Using the Heart of Ellsworth’s Water Street Mural as a starting point and discussion tool, we will discuss the prominent people and events that have shaped our collective heritage and influenced the Ellsworth we know and love today. The walk will proceed to important historic landmarks in the downtown district, ending at Fogtown Brewing Company. There, we will connect with Ellsworth High School students and members of Ellsworth Pride, who make Ellsworth an open and welcoming community for all Ellsworth residents. Be sure to lace up your most comfortable walking shoes for this downtown walking adventure!

Accessibility: This route is accessible by wheelchairs.

Starting point: Water Street Mural

Ending point: Fogtown Brewing Company

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.

Saccarappa: Past, Present, and Future

with Mike Shaughnessy from Friends of the Presumpscot and Discover Downtown Westbrook

Saturday, May 6 at 4:00 PM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

This walk will be led by Michael Shaughnessy, founding member of Friends of the Presumpscot, former Professor of Art at the University of Southern Maine, and Discover Downtown Westbrook Board Member. Westbrook has a deeply rooted relationship with the Presumpscot river, yet its history often goes unrecognized. Join Michael as he shares the fascinating history of the restoration of the Presumpscot river and its dynamic ecosystem. The walk will begin at the north (upstream) end of The Dana Warp Mill. We will visit the restored eastern falls. Then to the Fish ladder and Lower Falls. Then to the Western Falls. We will discuss the historic Indigenous, colonial and post-colonial significance, the restoration process, and the ecological importance of the falls. As well, we will have a discussion about the future potential of the Falls as a regionally important public space in Downtown Westbrook.

Accessibility:

Starting and ending point: Dana Warp Mill

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.