Walking around Brunswick, it is clear the area has strong British ties. Settled in 1738, it was abandoned due to mandatory evacuations in the Civil War but saw a resurgence as the lumber industry boomed in the late 1800’s. That led to shipyards in the area that became a critical support depot for the Allies in World War II.
From our starting point at the Brunswick Landing Marina, it is a short walk into the heart of downtown. The city is easy to navigate, laid out in the traditional grid pattern of old British cities. Small, quaint squares are interspersed with the local businesses and downtown streets. Although most businesses are currently closed due to COVID-19, the downtown area remains picturesque and a pleasant walk.
At the end of the business section of downtown sits Hanover Square. It was here during WW II that workers from the shipyards camped out. Over 16,000 transient workers came to build ships to support the war effort in 1942. The shipyard became so efficient, they were able to construct an entire vessel from start to finish in a little over a month and provided 99 ships to support the Allied troops. With limited housing in the area, the city allowed workers to sleep in the park. They would roll out their sleeping bags after a long day’s work to get their rest. In the morning, they would wash up in the fountain before returning to the shipyards. Three of the Victory ships built here took place in the D-Day invasion.
Century-old houses abound all around the square and in the nearby neighborhoods. If you enjoy old architecture, there are many quiet streets to stroll with some amazing buildings to admire. Some are recently restored, while others remain a work in progress.
A few blocks north of Hanover Square at the intersection of Albany and Prince Streets is a 900-year-old oak tree. Legend has it that Native American braves and their ladies met here for romantic rendezvous, a tradition that has continued for centuries.
Walking along the waterfront between F and Gloucester Streets is the Mary Ross Waterfront Park. In addition to a playground and sports area, the park has a memorial dedicated to the sailors of WW II with a replica of a Liberty Ship. The park hosts a farmer’s market three days a week and has historically hosted concerts in the park all summer.
The Brunswick Landing Marina makes a great home base for exploring the city. The marina stretches almost a mile along the riverfront with marshes on the opposite bank. Their facility offers free laundry, a clubhouse with free beer and wine, courtesy bikes and decent Wi-Fi connections. At the end of the river, there is little current here making navigation relatively easy (I actually took the boat out of the slip here for the first time…still scared the daylights out of myself!) It makes a great hurricane hole, with the last hurricane hitting here in 1979.
Although we didn’t intend to stop here this long, we have had some interesting experiences. Many thanks to our friends on S/V Carlina for the grand tour of the area and all their help as we navigated some personal challenges. A few more days to work and we are looking forward to going to sea again!
