June 19, Thursday – Exploring

My last night’s dinner guests spoke of walking the historic town of Berlin on the mainland situated just fifteen minutes from my camp. I checked it out.
Historic towns draw me because I spent six years on the La Conner Planning Commission and oversaw many issues that occur in a historic town. Topics such as design review – remodel/new; development, national franchises; growth; old timers vs. new people; split business districts; all fascinating subjects.
I spent the afternoon walking the streets and talking with the locals. And being the true tourist photographing and buying a slice of Smith Island Cake (nothing to write home about and not like a Nanaimo Bar). I found out that the long, low peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay is called “Delmarva.” This name has history and was not dreamed up by a recent Chamber of Commerce gathering although it does sound like it. “Delaware, Maryland, Virginia” all the states that have a piece of the peninsula. Delmarva is the breadbasket for Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. Corn, chicken, tomatoes, fish to name a few and where the basis of Berlin creation and survival.
The town had burned three times and after the 1895 fire, they rebuilt it in brick. I was duly impressed. Although the town was suffering from economical depression (like all towns are now) and had many vacancies, the three dozen or so buildings were in fairly good shape. The town had underground utilities and was nicely landscaped (La Conner take note!!). It had multiple streets in a compact business district with open spaces. Their design review process had some definite shortcomings with incompatible styles and materials but on the whole a delightful town to walk around in. They had their share of art galleries pushing local artists, antique stores and ice cream parlors but there still was a full functioning service station with four bays going full blast. And the usual anchor, the classic hotel (the Atlantic) with the long front porch and the rocking chairs. The downtown district was surrounded by classic turn-of-century houses in various states of upkeep. Of course out “On the Highway” there were the usual businesses and gas stations. Wanta invest in a historic town with all the small town problems??