Life in Bath? (Brunswick, Bridgton: buying a home, neighborhoods, buying)

[Valinmaine]

Hi all,

We are considering moving to the Bath area. We moved from Bridgton to Cumberland 3 years ago and we're not feeling the love.. We're thinking about moving to the Bath area. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what it's like. We have a 15 year old son and a 8 year old daughter. Is it a good place for kids? Are the schools okay? Are there any neighborhoods that we should avoid? We sold our 1895 New Englander in Bridgton and we'd love another old house. Any info at all would be great. Thanks!

[Coaster]

If you're looking for old houses, Bath is definitely the place for you. The city is full of them. Pay attention to location. Bath Iron Works is located in the middle of the city along the river, so it has an effect on the surrounding neighborhoods. Also, lot sizes vary dramatically in town. Once you get past the drydock south of the Yard, the neighborhoods are really very nice, with a good mix of homes. Same for north of Center Street.

Schools I'm less familiar with. FWIW, back in the 1980s and 1990s I knew several Bath teachers who sent their own children to the parochial school in Brunswick, which has an excellent reputation BTW, but I can't comment on today's schools.

[Valinmaine]

Thank you very much for the info! Val

[Unhappycamper]

Morse High School is the high school in Bath. There is also Hyde School which is a private school which is very expensive and is like the Harvard of high schools. The Morse high school's mascot is "The Ship Builders " but I guess it works. Its a nice area and is close to Brunswick.

[Valinmaine]

Thank you, as well. Val

[Aberfeldy]

Originally Posted by Valinmaine

Hi all,

We are considering moving to the Bath area. We moved from Bridgton to Cumberland 3 years ago and we're not feeling the love.. We're thinking about moving to the Bath area. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what it's like. We have a 15 year old son and a 8 year old daughter. Is it a good place for kids? Are the schools okay? Are there any neighborhoods that we should avoid? We sold our 1895 New Englander in Bridgton and we'd love another old house. Any info at all would be great. Thanks!

I think Bath is great. The people are wonderful-no pretense at all. I have lived and worked in Bath for over two years. We are buying a home at the end of March in the North end of town. That area has a lot of land and is beautiful. Schools-the elementary and middle schools are okay as long as you do not have children who have special needs. I think the special ed director is awful. The high school staff are wonderful and do a great job teaching, but the high school is going through some major transitions at the moment. The high school building is very old and-in my opinion-should be replaced. Morse High School has an incredibly loyal following of alumni. In fact it has the largest alumni association in the country. Some feel a great connection to the "building" of Morse High School, but it is truely outdated for today's youth. Bath has struggled to keep a Superintendent, but the one they now have is amazing and dedicated. I only see it getting better from here out. I think even with the school transitions going on, you would really enjoy the area. Bath is loaded with gorgeous old homes.

[Valinmaine]

Great info...Thanks! Val