At one time, you could have lived almost your entire life in downtown Ellsworth and never needed to leave. Schools, doctors, groceries, department and hardware stores, and even the undertaker and cemetery were right within a block or so of Main Street. Grow Smart Maine and Ellsworth Historical Society are partnering to take participants on a walk through downtown Ellsworth highlighting the ways building use, lifestyle, and culture have evolved with urbanization and modernization of our small city.
We will meet at the Old Burial Ground on State Street behind the Congregational Church and end at Fogtown Brewing on Pine Street. We will stop at locations of interest along the way including a couple of former schools and boarding homes to discuss past, current, and potential uses of our downtown’s valuable historic buildings. Good walking shoes are recommended and participants should be aware that we will be walking up and down hills.
Accessibility
Ellsworth is a hilly community so we will walk both up and down hills on our journey together. The Old Burial Ground also has steps and is not paved. The majority of our will will be on sidewalks through the center of Downtown.
Starting Location
The Old Burial Ground, Old Burial Ground, 73 State Street, is a 19th century cemetery behind the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth. It is a part of the State Street Historic District including the church, City Hall, the Courthouse, Ellsworth Public Library, and the Old Hancock County Jail. You will recognize its iron gates and large monuments.
Ending Location
Fogtown Brewing, 25 Pine Street, is Downtown Ellsworth's only brewery and is a great example of creative adaptation of an existing building for a modern use that boosts the downtown culture and economy by attracting visitors to a welcoming outdoor venue. Participants who have walked up an appetite are encouraged to grab a beverage and a wood-fired pizza or burger!
