York Library Author Talk: Susan Bregman talks Route 1 roadside attractions

YORK, Maine — Susan Bregman will join York Public Library for an author talk and book signing on Tuesday, July 16, for her book “Route 1 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.”

The talk will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.

Bregman's book is an unapologetic combination of historical gravity, exuberant entertainment, unexpected juxtapositions, and wonderfully kitschy roadside attractions. 

Route 1 connects communities along the New England Coast, and features some of the region’s most iconic historical sites. Those who travel it encounter roller coasters and candlepin bowling; lobster rolls and homemade pie; and colonial-era taverns and granite forts. Motor courts have welcomed weary travelers. Drive-in theaters have entertained vacationers on starlit summer nights. A club in Massachusetts showcased jazz greats.

Now, an orange dinosaur overlooks the highway in Massachusetts. A neon whale casts its glow in New Hampshire. In Maine, a statue memorializes a celebrity harbor seal; a geodesic dome pays homage to the official state fruit (the blueberry); a quirky museum documents the history of the state’s sardine industry; and a movie theater is named after a celebrated racehorse.

Mile after mile, Route 1 tells a story about history, survival, loss, and change.

In her presentation, Bregman will travel the famed corridor of Route 1, sharing photographs of the early 20th century from communities along the coast, sourced from historical societies, museums, libraries, universities, and private collections. She will touch on some of York’s attractions, including the Goldenrod, the Fun-O-Rama bowling alley, and the Nubble Lighthouse.

Seasonal visitors and residents alike are encouraged to consider adding a little local history to their summer plans with this fun program.

This event is free and open to the public. To register to attend or to learn more, visit yorkpubliclibrary.org/calendar, email [email protected], or call 207-363-2818. Copies of Susan’s book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

A writer and photographer, Bregman is also the author of Arcadia Publishing’s “New England Neon” and “New England Candlepin Bowling.” A native New Yorker, she moved to Boston after graduating college and never left.

“Along Route 1: Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts” is part of the “Images of America” series by Arcadia Publishing. Arcadia Publishing is the nation’s leading publisher of books of local nonfiction and rarely explored pockets of history.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York Library Author Talk: Susan Bregman talks Route 1 attractions