Page 14 - Newsletter_Winter_2021

HOULTON, MAINE
A Place for Memories
By Richard Nickerson, '81
Editor’s Note: I was approached by Rick several months
ago and he asked me if I thought the alums would like to
read book reviews of the many memoirs and novels that
have been written about Houlton and the region – many
by our own alums. I said most assuredly yes. This is
a new feature of the North Star News and will appear,
on a periodic basis, with more reviews of all things
Houlton-A Place for Memories. Enjoy this, Rick’s first
installment.
The following represents a year-long account of the
author revisiting his youth through his own memories
and the writings of several authors.
I am a nostalgic person. Some might say I’m a bit of
an extremist in that regard. I realize that not everyone
shares that passion, but it’s a part of who I am.
Houlton was a magical place to grow up.
For many of us who have moved away, we remember
the Houlton of our youth. The Houlton that we
viewed through a child’s lens. While the town has
changed in many ways, our memories hold on to that
place and time when life seemed so much simpler.
Every time I visit Houlton, I have to drive through
Market Square. I’m not sure what I’m looking for,
but I always seem to feel better even though most of
the businesses of my youth have long since closed.
Market Square has always been a special place. I
remember the town Christmas tree and the animated
window displays at Dunn’s Furniture, and the
Saturday matinees at Temple Cinema where you could
see a double feature, complete with popcorn, soda
and candy for 50 cents. In later years, I remember the
excitement of a new album from York’s Bookstore or
the smell of a fresh new baseball from Fogg’s. Market
Square was the hub of activity. Only recently did I
realize that one of the main reasons I love the movie
It’s a Wonderful Life so much, is that it reminds me of
a thriving downtown Houlton…the Houlton of my
youth.
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For reasons that I’ve never quite understood, I’ve
always enjoyed seeing and reading about places I
know well. Until I fell into the rabbit hole of reading
books set in Houlton, I never realized that John
Steinbeck’s (yes, THAT John Steinbeck) Travels with
Charley began in Aroostook County and he travelled
through Houlton!
When I was in high school, Yankee magazine did
a story on Houlton and the infestation of the saw-
toothed grain beetle. In the article, there was a
beautiful picture of Market Square. I remember
feeling an enormous sense of pride that our town
was featured in a magazine, even if it was only
because of unwanted insects. Down East magazine
recently named Houlton as one of the best small-
town downtowns. I felt that same sense of pride,
even though I haven’t lived in Houlton for over 40
years. I guess that’s a part of being from a small town.
The feeling of excitement that someone “from away”
might be interested in your town.
About two years ago, my wife and I had gone to hear
Travis Humphrey perform. During a conversation
about one of his songs, Show Me Good Land, he
mentioned that his wife had written a novel using
the same title. The title is a line taken from the video
made to honor Houlton’s bicentennial. He said it
was set in Houlton and I immediately ordered it.
When I began reading, I had no idea that this would
become the impetus for a year-long project that would
have me reading only books that took place in my
hometown. As my mind created the scenery in each
story, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood
and came to realize how lucky I was to grow up in
Houlton.
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