Brunswick Having ‘Its Moment in the Spotlight’ (Associated Press)

The Museum of Art, Brian Wedge Photography

The Downeaster train, photo by Michele Stapleton

While the Associated Press calls Brunswick a “good destination for history buffs,” it also acknowledges the town’s lively restaurant scene, first-rate art museum and other attractions that make it, according to the Smithsonian Magazine, one of America’s best small towns in 2012. The AP credits Bowdoin College with adding luster to the town, attracting many luminaries here from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to William Wegman.

The article recommends visitors stop by the Joshua Chamberlain house, First Parish Church, Skolfield-Whittier House, Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and the new Wegman exhibition at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. “For those tempted to dismiss Wegman as a gimmicky photographer who, as one passer-by was overheard to say, takes pictures of “dogs in dresses,” this show may change your mind,” AP Travel Editor Beth J. Harpaz writes.

And Harpaz adds that the Downeaster train, which is expected to start service between Brunswick and Boston in November, will further enhance Brunswick’s “really bright future.”

Christopher Hanks '68

July 23, 2012 at 9:52 am

Brunswick’s downtown attractions have come a long way.

Back in the ’60s, I can remember patronizing several strange stores along Main Street (there were at least three of them as I recall) that offered pretty much nothing more than beef sausage sticks, cigarettes, sodas in one of those coolers you had to reach into and pull the bottle out of a metal rack, motor oil, and a bearded guy in a Beans jacket and hunting cap who would eye you suspiciously when you came in the door.

The good old days.

John Stadler

July 23, 2012 at 9:53 am

We at Tao Restaurant were also pleased by Harpaz’ excellent coverage of Brunswick. It is true about Bowdoin’s role in the town; however, there are certainly ways for all of us in this community to build on what we already have. Face it: the town and the region are struggling, because of the economy and the lagging effects of the BNAS closure. The vacancies at Brunswick Landing are just the tip of the iceberg; schools are facing diminished enrollment, all of the services in town have excess capacity, the coastal marine ecology seems very precarious, etc. I am not trying to be alarmist; this is a great town and a great place to live. My point is that Bowdoin and the town leadership could certainly do more.

How can we begin this conversation? How can we get Bowdoin students and faculty integrated into finding solutions for all of these issues? How can we use Brunswick’s fine attributes to attract knowledge-based industry and growing service sectors (like more retirement communities)? Please, Bowdoin: now is the time for leadership to realize this “really bright future.”