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KELLY MICHAUD PHOTO

Belfast polishes its future!

Welcome to a city steeped in history

One of coastal Maine’s true secrets, and a delightful discovery to the uninitiated, is the City of Belfast.

by Michael McGuire

It was only a generation ago that this city was bustling with fish and chicken processing plants along its waterfront, truly a far cry from the Belfast of 2002. The disappearance of both these industries left Belfast and the rest of Waldo County with a double-digit unemployment rate, deteriorating housing stock and not much light shining on the horizon in the 1970s and ‘80s.

But there were plenty of people who refused to give up on Belfast and the rest of Waldo County and slowly but surely, the city began evolving into a center for artistic expression of many varieties. A number of clean, light industries set up shop in the Industrial Park. Several popular restaurants opened, including a Mexican eatery at the southern entrance to the city, that helped draw more visitors. The waterfront began experiencing a greater mix of uses, complete with a tourist excursion boat or two.

Among the most steadfast cheerleaders for Belfast have been former mayor Page Worth and businessman and current Mayor Michael Hurley. In a welcoming letter to visitors in the city’s chamber of commerce guide, Hurley describes his city as “… a genuine gem among America’s small cities.” He goes on to say that visitors, “… with a little deeper look will find a large and diverse community of people that are our greatest strength.”

In the late 1990s, MBNA located its expansive office complex on land on the west side of Route 1. The hundreds of new, good paying jobs brought to Belfast by MBNA, coupled with the need of these people to obtain housing, created an economic shot in the arm that has continued to propel Belfast and much of the rest of Waldo County through an economic boom.

And as the economy has strengthened, Belfast has taken on just a little bit of a different look and feel, for the better.

The University of Maine now operates the Hutchinson Center for college learning, a center that offers continuing education opportunities along with courses leading to a degree in a variety of subject areas.

Discovering Belfast is a combination of stepping back in time as well as watching the future unfold. The Belfast area has a history dating back more than 200 years. It was named after the flip of a coin, with one of the choices being Belfast, after the city in Northern Ireland. In fact, just last year, the mayor of Belfast, Maine welcomed the mayor of Belfast, Northern Ireland to the city on the shores of Penobscot Bay.

Belfast and neighboring Searsport are home to many beautiful Greek Revival mansions. These were built in the 1800s, the heydays of shipbuilding, especially in Searsport where more than 200 ships were built between 1810 and 1890. Today, a good number of these stately buildings operate as inns or bed and breakfast establishments, welcoming guests from across the United States and from many foreign countries.

Among Belfast’s elegant homes turned inns are: The White House at No. 1 Church Street, Harbor View House of 1807, the Alden House, Londonderry Inn and Belhaven Inn. Just looking at many of these buildings conjures up images of Maine’s seafaring past.

Some years ago, the Maine Department of Transportation reconstructed Route 1 so that it bypassed the downtown area. While such an action has proven to be an economic death knell to small communities in many parts of the country, Belfast has thrived, thanks in greatest part to its citizens and elected leaders who recognized the need to retain an economically vital downtown business district. Today, visitors will find the city’s business district streets bustling year round, with people shopping in a wide variety of specialty stores. One of the most popular gathering spots in Belfast is the Co-op where people can find an incredibly rich variety of quality foods including organically grown and vegetarian specialties, as well as many hand-made items from local craftspeople.

Art galleries and antique stores provide a strong draw for summer tourists. In fact, visiting Belfast offers the opportunity to stop in nearby Lincolnville or Searsport where antique stores and outdoor flea markets abound.

Summer is the perfect time to be exploring Belfast. Just two weeks ago, the city unveiled its 2002 Bearfest. This third annual season-long event features a collection of fiberglass bears that have been painted, decorated by local artists and community groups and set in a variety of scenes throughout Belfast. Visitors can follow a walking tour of the city that includes the locations of all the bears. It’s a sight to behold and well worth the time. Neighboring Rockland has undertaken a similar event, featuring 4-feet tall painted and decorated fiberglass lobsters.

Belfast is home to The Maskers, a local theater group that stages a number of productions over the course of each year. The Maskers has a regional reputation for excellence in its stage offerings and the group’s productions are eagerly awaited by faithful followers.

Take a stroll down to the city’s waterfront and you will be greeted by a visual delight.

Belfast Harbor is a work in progress, a gem that is in the process of being finely cut in preparation for a shining future. Decades of pollution in the harbor from the fish and chicken processing plant discharges is gone, and the harbor moorings are increasingly becoming home to pleasure craft of all sizes. Admiring the scenic vistas from the waterfront park during summer, visitors can expect to see a mix of lobster boats, sailboats, motor yachts and even groups of kayakers all sharing the harbor.

If you want to take a distinct step back in time, book passage on a trip with the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad, an excursion based operation that offers great family fun.

Operating trains out of both Belfast and Unity, the nation’s sixth oldest railroad company offers seasonal opportunities to experience the treasures of Waldo County. On trips from Unity, there is entertainment and lunch is available in the railroad’s Swedish Dining Car. Information and schedules can be had by contacting the B&MLRR at 1-800-392-5500

One of the area’s treasures is the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, which houses an impressive collection of shipbuilding memorabilia. It takes only about 15 minutes to drive there from Belfast and it is worth every moment.

The museum offers hands-on exhibits for children. Included among the offerings of the museum’s 25 galleries is one of New England’s most impressive collections of furnishings, artifacts, ship models, paintings, photographs, art from China and small watercraft. Famous maritime artists such as Thomas and James Butterworth are included in an extensive collection that also boasts works by Stubbs, Salmon, Jacobson, Cozzens, Waldron, Yorke and Heard.

There is an admission charge. Call 207-548-2529 for information.

Belfast and the surrounding area of Waldo County have begun attracting more attention from people looking to relocate to the coastal region of Maine. The draw of MBNA, Moss Inc. and other large-scale employers, coupled with the relative ease of travel to Augusta via Route 3 or Bangor via Route 1, is further solidifying Belfast’s place in the regional economy.

(Note: Information for this article came, in part, from the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce guide, “The Heart of Coastal Maine.”)