I saw a story recently on the “Today” show about “abandoned malls.” The story was about a young man (30 to 40) photographing abandoned shopping malls and stating that “back in the day,” he shopped and hung out at the local malls.

He was also lamenting the loss of the “greatest economic engine” ever known. He wanted to document the abandoned, deteriorating and vandalized malls before they disappeared from memory. The malls’ demise seems to be linked to more online shopping.

How ironic this story was to me, a baby boomer turning 66 soon!

I remember, back in the day, hanging out downtown at the local pizza place and shopping at the neighborhood mom-and-pop store. We got our necessities at the local clothing store, hardware store, etc.

Then in a flash, the malls were everywhere. The local mom-and-pop establishments closed, and the downtowns around Middle America became memories.

I applaud and encourage this young man’s efforts. If someone like him hadn’t taken photographs back in the 1950s and ’60s – remember cameras with film? – then I wouldn’t be able to look at pictures of the Westbrook I remember from my childhood.

Ironic how what goes around comes around, isn’t it? I wonder what will replace online shopping.

Steven C. Pomelow

Gorham

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