Moving to Searsport, ME (Lewiston, Augusta: 2013, crime, buy)

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Alene

There is traffic every summer that we have been to Maine on Route 1 heading into Wiscasset from either direction. We have actually waited hours crawling down the highway from Belfast down to Portland some years, but once you pass through Wiscasset traffic picks right up. Someone told us it is because of the little lobster shack called Red's Eats and it is only during the peak of tourist season. It is so popular that there is constant traffic and people constantly crossing the street to get to the shack. Anyone else ever seen this?

Alene, since this thread is Searsport/Belfast specific, you might have better luck asking this question in a new thread. Well, til Mermie answered, I was thinking you might like to just make a thread about Wicasset... lol...

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by Alene

There is traffic every summer that we have been to Maine on Route 1 heading into Wiscasset from either direction. We have actually waited hours crawling down the highway from Belfast down to Portland some years, but once you pass through Wiscasset traffic picks right up. Someone told us it is because of the little lobster shack called Red's Eats and it is only during the peak of tourist season. It is so popular that there is constant traffic and people constantly crossing the street to get to the shack. Anyone else ever seen this?

Yes Alene, you will find that the traffic congestion in Wiscasset is usually only seasonal. I'm pretty sure it's usually not backed up for hours however unless there has been an accident on the bridge. Red's is a very popular tourist spot as it has been written about in many publications and has also been featured on national television.
There are a few other routes to bypass the whole Rt 1 summer traffic problem. Take Rt 3 in Augusta over to Belfast and pick up Rt 1 there. Or you can take Rt 126 in Randolph to Rt 17 over to Rockland and pick up Rt 1 there. Rt 1 in Maine will always have summer traffic, it slows us down but we like the $$$ you tourists bring in.

[arzachena]

I am a Belfast native and can't say enough great things about my home town.
There are many web sites on Belfast that may be of help to you.

belfastusa.com
waldocountyme.gov
waldocountymaine.com
belfastmaine.org
cityofbelfast.org

My opinion of Belfast is base on my life experience and is very bias.

It is my Mayberry, everyone knows my name and my family has lived there for generations. My grandmother worked at the chicken plant for years. My grandfather was a taxis driver in town after he retired as an auto mechanic. My mother was a hairdresser in town for 40+ years.
Perry's furniture was once my pre-school. And Perry's Nut House is a shell of its former shelf.

Belfast has changed leaps and bounds from my youth and I think for the better. I hope the links are of use to you.

[Mike Sz]

Thanks for your very helpful message.! I will be looking at a house at 7 Warren Street. As a Searsport native, I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. Mike

[melinuxfool]

Originally Posted by Mike Sz

Thanks for your very helpful message.! I will be looking at a house at 7 Warren Street. As a Searsport native, I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. Mike

Are you talking this one here? Single Family Home For Sale in Searsport, ME 04974 - ME15655 (http://www.listingvue.com/Maine-Single-Family-Home-For-Sale-1303167 - broken link)

There are likely to be some issues with a house that old. Check the foundation thoroughly, and also check for mold. The other thing is that it will likely cost an arm and a leg to heat in the winter, unless someone has insulated it well.

[Mike Sz]

Originally Posted by melinuxfool

Are you talking this one here? Single Family Home For Sale in Searsport, ME 04974 - ME15655 (http://www.listingvue.com/Maine-Single-Family-Home-For-Sale-1303167 - broken link)

There are likely to be some issues with a house that old. Check the foundation thoroughly, and also check for mold. The other thing is that it will likely cost an arm and a leg to heat in the winter, unless someone has insulated it well.

Thanks, Melinuxfool. Your advise is certainly wise. I once owned a house built in 1749 that was quite a headache. However, this one seems to have been updated quite nicely. I'll know better next week. Does anyone have knowledge about this specific street/area in Searsport? Mike

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Mike Sz

Thanks, Melinuxfool. Your advise is certainly wise. I once owned a house built in 1749 that was quite a headache. However, this one seems to have been updated quite nicely. I'll know better next week. Does anyone have knowledge about this specific street/area in Searsport? Mike

No, I don't Mike, but I'm 5 minutes from there. I'll bop over there this afternoon and report back. I'll take my camera and see if I can get some additional shots of the house/street, etc.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by melinuxfool

Are you talking this one here? Single Family Home For Sale in Searsport, ME 04974 - ME15655 (http://www.listingvue.com/Maine-Single-Family-Home-For-Sale-1303167 - broken link)

There are likely to be some issues with a house that old. Check the foundation thoroughly, and also check for mold. The other thing is that it will likely cost an arm and a leg to heat in the winter, unless someone has insulated it well.

I'm sure it has been insulated several times since it was built. Our house is larger than that one and even though our insulation is not the best it does not cost us a huge amount to heat it. Wood helps a lot.

[Newdaawn]

Expect major tie ups in Ellsworth until late fall- and then again in the spring when they resume that major road construction project.

Tonight 10/16/09 the Historical Society in Searsport is holding an open house - for a fee - at 5 old homes right on Rt. 1 from 5 to 7 - we may check that out.

[melinuxfool]

Originally Posted by Mike Sz

Thanks, Melinuxfool. Your advise is certainly wise. I once owned a house built in 1749 that was quite a headache. However, this one seems to have been updated quite nicely. I'll know better next week. Does anyone have knowledge about this specific street/area in Searsport? Mike

Well, it's about half a mile to the grocery store. I'd call that walking distance to the Dunkin Donuts as well, of course, to me, anything less than a mile is walking distance, unless it's wicked cold out.

Searsport is a relatively low crime town. A word of caution, local PD love to stop out-of-staters. So when it says 25, it means 24.