There’s something special, even almost magical, about small Maine towns. They offer a warmth and a friendship that’s unique to our little corner of the country, and Brunswick is no exception. It’s a place I’ve been fortunate to call home for the past 40 years, and throughout that time, I’ve been engaged by the town’s close-knit community and its remarkable history. Whether it’s seeing a neighbor at the farmer’s market on Maine Street, catching up with my friends at The Bowling Bowl (I’m still working on my candlepin form), or supporting our very own Brunswick Dragons under the lights on a Friday night, Brunswick embodies the character of Maine towns from Kittery to Madawaska and everywhere in between — and these towns are why our state is such a special place to live.

And it’s a place immersed in history.

Even after all these years, I continue to find myself in awe of the history that surrounds us. My children, like many of yours, attended Longfellow Elementary School, named in honor of the great 19th century American poet who roamed Brunswick’s streets during his days at Bowdoin College with future President Franklin Pierce. The home of legendary Civil War General and Maine Governor Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain still stands just up the road from mine at the corner of Potter and Maine. And it’s not hard to imagine Harriet Beecher Stowe at her desk in her home on Federal Street, writing Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which, as the story goes, prompted President Lincoln to say upon meeting her: “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” Isn’t it remarkable to think of how Brunswick has shaped some of the most important leaders of our country’s history, and how they, in turn, have shaped our town — and by extension, each of us? In Brunswick, the echoes of those who came before continue to speak to those willing to hear the quiet but powerful call of history.

That, of course, doesn’t mean our town hasn’t faced its share of challenges. All we have to do is look back to the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station. For decades, BNAS helped define the character of our town, and we were all hurt by its closure. The service-members who lived here contributed immeasurably to our community, and their opinions and values made us a better place. But if BNAS is a story of closure, it’s also one of resilience. In just five years, Brunswick Landing has become an exciting new center of growth and development with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority doing a fantastic job attracting new businesses and creating new jobs in the region. A spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship has taken hold, and the economic future of the Midcoast is that much brighter because of it. This success was never a sure thing, and has only been possible through hard work and resiliency throughout our community.

A good friend of mine likes to say that Maine is a big small town with very long streets. For Brunswick, we might say it’s a big small town with a very wide Maine Street — but the message is the same: we are a community that cares about one another and I’m proud to call it home.

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Brunswick resident Angus King represents Maine as an Independent in the U.S. Senate and previously served two terms as Maine’s 72nd governor.