Consider, for a moment, what makes Brunswick special. First of all, it’s a great town for young families, a magnet for retired people. There’s the location, of course, close to the ocean and mountains and near Portland, a city on the move. And there’s Bowdoin College, one of America’s finest liberal arts colleges. And the extraordinary offerings of the Maine State Music Theatre and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. And the beautiful wide Maine Street, with wonderful restaurants and quaint shops. And the inspiring ethos of volunteerism, which works for the common good. And don’t forget the town mall, which serves as a community gathering place. And at one end of the mall there’s that cool old-time gazebo and … time out!

Did you know that the gazebo was built about 50 years ago and that it was made in part from pine trees that Bowdoin chopped down to expand the campus? Did you know it was funded primarily by the Village Improvement Association? The VIA has worked tirelessly to preserve and enhance the beauty and livability of Brunswick since way back in 1878.

As the VIA’a website explains, the VIA was created “to improve and ornament the Town of Brunswick and to promote the sanitary conditions thereof by united personal efforts.” They were asked “to take an interest in matters of backyard beauty, cows in the streets, young boys climbing young trees, horses frightened by litter and bad places in the highway.”

Those challenges were addressed long ago, but the VIA remains focused on enhancing the beauty of downtown Brunswick. Ever wonder who purchases and plants and tends to the beautiful petunias that line Maine Street every year? That’s the VIA. And who sponsors the window box contest? Yep, the VIA. And who advocates for the old trees on Maine Street? The VIA once again. The VIA also created the reading garden at Curtis Memorial Library and helps fund public art installations.

A letter from Hermia Tucker demonstrated the impact of the petunias. “Before my mother’s death at age 89, she lived in a convalescent home in West Bath. Many of her past memories were faded or absent from the reality of her day-to-day life. When she was a younger woman one of her great pleasures was her flower garden. And so, when I would drive her down Maine Street and she saw the beautiful petunias that connection was made. Each time she would sit a little taller and become a little more aware of her surroundings. She always commented on the colors — the colors she liked the best, that belonged together , where she might have added another color here or there. It was like old times.”

Curt Dale Clark, artistic director of Maine State Music Theatre, echoes that sentiment. “The petunias show the Midcoast how much Brunswick cares about our little ‘Hamlet’ and brighten the smiles of those that live here or ‘Come From Away’ to visit us!”

Jane Crichton, chair of the Village Improvement Association, has been involved in the VIA for over 50 years. “It’s the best volunteer job in the world,” she says, while noting that the VIA has no paid staff. The petunia project depends upon funding from the Senter Fund, the Brunswick Parks Department, Longfellow Days, the Brunswick Downton Association, foundation grants and individual donors. Incidentally, the cost of becoming a member of the VIA is a whopping $1 a year. (That is not a typo.)

The next annual meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at Curtis Memorial Library. A major agenda item will be the need to renovate the iconic gazebo and make it ADA accessible. Consider attending the meeting to show your appreciation for the VIA, a Brunswick gem for almost 150 years.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].

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