PITTSFIELD – There’s an intriguing aerial photo in the lobby of Merrill Merchants Bank on Main Street that was taken in the mid-1950s. The photo shows a vibrant downtown – cars filling every parking space, a diverse scattering of businesses and service companies – in other words, the heart of a community.

For decades, as malls and shopping plazas were built, downtowns across the country emptied and became ghost towns, and the photo in the bank represented the past, not the present.

In recent months, however, thanks to some initiative by several local entrepreneurs and the drawing power of Renys Department Store, Pittsfield’s downtown is once again becoming a destination.

On Friday morning, before the barbershop opened, three men were waiting outside on the sidewalk and shoppers were passing by. Two women sat in the park enjoying coffee, and the phone was ringing in Heidi Anne’s Flower Shop.

“I did look at a lot of other locations, but I wanted to be on Main Street,” shop owner Anne Duncombe said Friday. “The crosswalk dumps right into my front door and everyone that stops at the traffic light is looking right at my display windows.”

Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said the importance of a vital downtown couldn’t be downplayed. “The downtown is an important link in our communities,” she said Friday. “Locally owned businesses assist in building strong communities by sustaining town centers, contributing to local causes such as the swimming pool and library fundraising projects and linking neighbors through social relationships.”

With the addition of three new businesses, shoppers now aren’t stopping downtown just to go into one store. They are making multiple visits, saving gas money by shopping and meeting their needs locally. For the first time in many years Main Street has color, diversity and innovation, and shoppers are taking notice.

Jean and Bill Bradshaw recently opened Details, a hair salon, and are nearly ready to begin serving gourmet ice cream and specialty treats at Big Bill’s.

They’ve decorated their building in bright, attractive colors, adding planters, picnic tables and a space to gather.

Duncombe moved her florist shop to the opposite end of the block, luring customers with fragrant and engaging window boxes, hanging plants and window displays.

Duncombe and the Bradshaws share a history – they all grew up in Pittsfield – and a goal, to bring the downtown back to life.

“I think the people of Pittsfield really appreciate quality things and nice-looking buildings,” Jean Bradshaw said Friday. “This is such a great downtown, with the library, Cianbro’s landscaping. It looks really nice. And the unique thing about Pittsfield is that people can walk downtown from every different neighborhood.”

Bradshaw said that the downtown is “alive and fun and exciting.”

“Pittsfield’s downtown has a variety of banks, hair salon, retail stores, mortgage services, community theater, flower shop, newspaper office, convenience stores, service garage, bed and breakfast, many businesses at North Lancey Street and is home to major corporations,” Ruth said.

“Entrepreneurship will be part of the solution to sustaining Pittsfield’s economy,” Ruth said. “These businesses … all have local character and keep dollars in the local economy. A walkable downtown reduces automobile use, air pollution, and will assist residents and businesses in being able to utilize their money for other basic necessities given how expensive everything has become this year – gas, oil and services. With the cost of everyday business, a return to running downtown for basics will save people money and time.”

John Chaney at Town and Country Realtors said others are noticing the changes as well. TCR is listing an empty restaurant on Main Street and, Chaney said, “We are getting Bangor interest on this Pittsfield property. Interest is very high.”

Ruth said the town would continue to emphasize the diversity of its downtown. “Town volunteers and staff have hung flags and hanging flower baskets to make the downtown more inviting,” she said. “We plan to continue to reinforce the downtown’s sense of place and will be building upon its unique cultural and historic assets. In addition, while shopping or out meeting with your neighbors, you can take a quick walk around the Mill Pond Loop and enjoy the town’s many parks. This is a community-based revitalization effort through the private and public sector that is creating a destination for our downtown.”

Bill Bradshaw agrees. “We want Pittsfield people to be able to stay in Pittsfield and that’s why we need more quality places to go, more diversity. We have been very well received here, by the other shop owners and the town, which has been very accommodating to our needs.”

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