Town of Berwick, Maine

Source: Town of Berwick, Maine Facebook Page
Berwick Town Hall

History

Berwick is on the banks of Salmon Falls River in the southernmost part of Maine; the river flows southeast for 38 miles and forms the border with New Hampshire. The neighboring villages of North Berwick and South Berwick were once a part of Berwick, and they became separate communities in the early 1800s. Originally part of Kittery, Berwick was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1703 and named after Berwick-upon-Tweed in England.

The plentiful forests surrounding the Salmon Falls River, a tributary of the mighty Piscataqua, attracted the first settlers to the area. Sawmills sprung up along the banks to process the lumber needed to develop and settle the land, and the area flourished. The first sawmill in the colonies—Gibbon’s Saw Mill—was located on the river. Agriculture became a vital part of the early economy and continues to be part of the fabric of the community.

Today, Berwick still retains the feel of a quaint and rural New England village located close to larger towns and cities. Portland is about an hour’s drive north. Kittery and other coastal communities and sandy beaches are about a half hour’s drive to the southwest. The area is primarily homes spread out on country roads that wind through farmlands and friendly residential communities.

Exploring Berwick, Maine

Whether you are just stopping by for a visit, you live here, or are thinking of relocating; there are many wonderful opportunities in the area to enjoy what Berwick and southern Maine has to offer.

Exploring the Outdoors in Berwick

A stretch of the Eastern Trail, which is part of The East Coast Greenway, goes through the Berwick area. The southern part of the trail in Maine starts at Bug Light in Portland and connects with Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, about 65 miles. Hiking or biking the Eastern Trail in southern Maine is a wonderful way to get an intimate look at saltwater marshes, sandy beaches, rivers, woodlands, and the wildlife that inhabits each of these diverse habitats. For the routes in the Berwick area, check out maps 2 and 3 on the Eastern Trail site.

For a walk or hike right in Berwick, check out this little gem—Penny Pond Trail—maintained by the Berwick Trails Committee. The trail has been undergoing improvements and upgrades. Open year-round, Penny Pond is a great summer hike, and in the winter the pond is used for skating—as long as someone gets out there and clears the snow off.

The area is rich with other hiking opportunities as well thanks to the local (and sage) efforts of the Great Works Regional Land Trust. The trust is a membership organization that works with the community to preserve open space and farmland on private property that everyone can enjoy. Keay Brook Preserve is one of the many local spaces you can explore. The Preserve is a 1.25 mile-loop (rated easy) where you can hike and experience the beauty and solitude of Keay Brook and Salmon River Falls.

Source: Grass-fed bison on Hackmatack Farm
Hackmatack Farm & Co.

Farms and the Farmers’ Market in Berwick

While farmer’s markets are quite popular in this region during the warmer months, Berwick extends the season with a festive winter Farmers’ Market, a testament to their commitment to support local farmers, fishermen and women, beekeepers, artisans, and craftspeople. The market is a great way for neighbors to gather, stock up on fresh produce and local goods, listen to live music and celebrate the community.

Some farms in the area are Hackmatack Farm which raises American Bison—yes, buffalo—and Mangalitsa pigs, lambs, ducks, chickens, and venison in natural settings. Their products are hormone and antibiotic free, and the farm places an emphasis on providing authentic and healthy whole foods. Orange Circle Farm raises and sells seedlings, flowers and vegetables, and offers a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership. An off-grid solar system powers the barn, and the farm is MOFGA certified. And, there are honey bee hives cared for by Black Cat Bee Company. Then there is the nationally recognized Tare Shirt Farm, a mid-18th century working farm dedicated to the fiber arts—spinning, knitting, and weaving. Tare Shirt has period buildings, orchards, and livestock.

Dining in Berwick

Be sure to visit Maggie’s Dine & Drive for breakfast or lunch on the go—this colorful drive-through, or rather drive-around, serves breakfast and lunch and gets big kudos for breakfast burritos and its rotating grilled cheese sandwich. Corner Point Brewing is quickly becoming the place to hang out and taste locally sourced and locally brewed beer. Check out their Aroma Joe’s Coffee Porter—a blend of Vienna malt and Aroma Joe’s coffee—resulting in a robust porter and a nod towards another New England favorite. Corner Point has great brews, light fare, live music, and growlers to go—a great place to meet up with friends and neighbors. And yes, Berwick has an Aroma Joe’s—the brainchild of two sets of brothers from Maine. AJ’s focuses on the three C’s, the customer, the community, and the cup—and they do a bang-up job at all three.

This is just a partial list of all the wonderful things to see and do in Berwick—stop in—see for yourself what makes this village on the Salmon Falls River an excellent place to plant your roots in or just kick around for the day.

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