Author Talk - Along Route 1: Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts

Route 1 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts is an unapologetic combination of historic gravity, exuberant  entertainment, unexpected juxtapositions, and wonderfully kitschy roadside attractions. New England road trippers  will encounter roller coasters and candlepin bowling, lobster rolls and homemade pie, colonial-era taverns and  granite fortifications. An orange dinosaur overlooks the highway in Massachusetts, a neon whale casts its glow in  New Hampshire, and a statue in Maine memorializes a celebrity harbor seal. Motor courts once welcomed weary  travelers, and drive-in theaters entertained vacationers on starlit summer nights. A geodesic dome is dedicated to the  Maine wild blueberry, and a quirky museum documents the history of the state’s sardine industry. A club in  Massachusetts showcased jazz greats, and a movie theater in Maine was named after a celebrated racehorse. Mile after mile, Route 1 tells a story about history, survival, loss, and change. 

Susan always tailors the presentation to the community.  For York she will likely include some of the places a little bit off Route 1 such as Goldenrod, Fun-O-Rama, the bowling alley at York Beach and the Nubble Lighthouse. 

Susan Bregman is a writer and photographer living in Boston. She loves old neon signs, candlepin bowling, lawn flamingos, and roadside attractions.

She is the author of New England Neon, New England Candlepin Bowling, and Along Route 1: Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts – all for Arcadia Publishing.  And she is currently working on her fourth book, New England Sweets.

Originally from New York, Susan moved to Boston after graduating from college and never left.

The remarkable photographs in this book came from historical societies, museums, libraries, universities, and private collections.