Bowdoinham

From its organic farmstands, to its thriving artistic community, to its active public library that gets kids excited about reading, the riverfront Maine community of Bowdoinham is very much alive.

This little town is an engaged community with all the charm of a small New England village, plus easy access to one of the state’s major highways. Built on a legacy of both farming and shipbuilding, this is a friendly area where everyone knows each other and where the community actively looks for ways to stay involved with their neighbors. It’s also located right on the adorably named Merrymeeting Bay.

“A lot of these littler towns are close to a bigger town, but it’s not as fast paced, and people still want to have a conversation and get to know you,” says Bonnie Hollander, associate broker at Tim Dunham Realty in nearby Topsham. “If somebody is looking for a community they could really get involved in, those are great towns to pick.”

Bowdoinham operates around a town center right on the banks of the river. That’s where you can find Mailly Waterfront Park, a picturesque outdoor area with picnic tables, hiking trails and stunning views of the Cathence River. There’s also a boat ramp for launching your sea vessels into the water, and in the summertime, it’s where you can catch an outdoor concert every Sunday. While you’re downtown, get your meats, sandwiches and pizza slices from the Bowdoinham Country Store.

Out in the town’s residential neighborhoods, you will find a smattering of classic New England architectural styles, including houses that were built more than 100 years ago. There are Cape Cods built in 1800 for $250,000, colonials from 1850 on three acres for $550,000, barn houses from 1952 for $270,000, homes from 1900 with bay windows on an acre for $400,000 and contemporary wooden houses on six acres for $300,000.

In a downtown building near the river, you will come across Bowdoinham’s thriving artistic community at the Merrymeeting Arts Center. This is where you can come appreciate craftsmanship at a gallery, take a pottery class or go to the Art Lab, where you can work on your own projects. The presence of the artists in the community adds a different element of color to all of Bowdoinham. The Arts Center also offers classes specifically for toddlers, and kids can sign up for its annual summer camp.

Speaking of kids, the Bowdoinham Public Library offers tons of ways to engage specifically with them. Every year, the library holds an Edible Book Competition, which offers kids the opportunity to cook, bake or arrange a piece of food inspired by their favorite book. One entry in 2023 was a cake called “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderbread,” decorated with Wonderbread’s signature primary colors and a cutout of Alice herself looking inside a few hollowed-out pieces of bread. Goats from nearby farms have also been known to make appearances at the library’s designated story time.

Bowdoinham is part of a public school system referred to as Maine School Administrative District 75. The district has seven schools, including Bowdoinham Community School, an elementary school in town. After fifth grade, kids move up to Mt. Ararat Middle School in nearby Topsham before graduating and moving on to a high school with the same name.

In recent years, there’s been a bit of a resurgence of Bowdoinham’s agricultural history. In 2007, Six River Farm opened, bringing certified organic fresh vegetables to the community. But another way Bowdoinham keeps its roots alive is through its annual plant sale, a giant bazaar where you can order vegetables, herbs and flowers to plant in the coming months. In a town built on agriculture what could be more fundamental than that?

Bowdoinham is located right off I-295, making it a great place to live if you need to commute to Portland. This little town has it all – come see for yourself.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

Jason Veilleux

Video By

Brian Bernhard