Remember delights of downtown

It’s true that we often overlook what’s in our own back yard – or our own downtown. During one five-year period, I traveled the mile to downtown Bangor five or six times a week for work, but rarely took the time to remind myself of all the things I like about the area.

Instead, I went to the post office when I needed to, went to the library when I needed to – you know how it goes. But recently I found myself downtown because of something my husband needed to do.

While he was busy, I wandered. I, who so often tell genealogists they should “browse” at the Bangor Public Library, did the same type of thing downtown – and had a great time doing it.

There was a little Christmas shopping for the nieces and nephews – in September, no less. Then I visited some bookstores, old and new. I popped by Norumbega Park to visit the statue of Hannibal Hamlin, first vice president under Abraham Lincoln and my second cousin, four times removed.

When my husband finished his business, we ate out – of course – then took another stroll around the area because I remembered we hadn’t seen “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage,” the current exhibit at the Bangor Museum and Center for History at 6 State St.

From Penobscot Indian to Irish, Jewish, Greek, African American, Italian and French, the influences on this area were obvious. Clothing, portraits, team photos, mementos, documents told the tales. In the gift shop, I found a copy of that colorful Harriet Hill print of the collage of Bangor buildings – the one I was sure was no longer available. I was wrong.

There’s too much else to mention, but I do visit frequently the University of Maine Museum of Art in Norumbega Hall on Harlow Street. It’s fun to see what’s new, and I’m always enchanted with classics by the likes of Wyeth and Homer.

Needless to say, I’ll be back.

Roxanne Moore Saucier is editor of The Weekly and Family Ties columnist for the Bangor Daily News.