Downtowns in Maine — especially downtowns that are worth your time to visit — are becoming harder and harder to find, especially in some of the state’s smaller communities. Norway’s downtown and Main Street business district is one of the most vibrant ones you’ll find in the western part of the state.

Just three or four years ago that last sentence wouldn’t have been accurate. Many of the town’s historic storefronts were vacant and there were only a handful of older businesses remaining, along with a bookstore and a couple of restaurants. Over the past few years, several new, locally owned businesses have opened, a number of them in Norway’s historic Opera House, built in 1894. The building, especially its distinctive clock tower, is immediately noticeable upon entering Main Street from the South Paris end of town (to the south). That and the Romanesque arch are defining elements and serve as an anchor for the downtown area.

Like other properly scaled business districts, Norway’s is walkable and provides both on-street and free municipal parking off Main Street (find it behind the Fare Share Co-op, an anchor business since 1978, located at 445 Main St.). Once out of your car, it’s a short jaunt to any of the numerous storefront businesses located in the heart of the downtown.

Irina Kahn, president of Western Maine Art Group and a local artist, moved to Norway from North Carolina with her husband six years ago. She cited the town’s “artistic spirit” as the attraction that drew them to Maine and Norway.

Ben Tucker, who self-identified as a local historian, told me that artists, writers and photographers have always been attracted to the town.

“Norway is a surprisingly eclectic community, attracting people from all over,” he said.

Tucker mentioned several local artists from the past who were well-known, including Vivian Akers, who gained a following for his portraiture and landscape painting.

“Akers worked in all mediums as an artist,” said Tucker. “He was commissioned to do a portrait of Chief Justice Earl Warren in the 1950s.”

“Then there was Mellie Dunham, an accomplished fiddler and snowshoe maker,” said Tucker. “He once was transported to Michigan to play for Henry Ford and his employees at the Ford plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Dunham also made the snowshoes that Richard Byrd wore on his expedition to the Antarctic,” he said.

Kahn spoke about the diligent efforts of the Norway Downtown Association in Main Street’s renaissance.

“There’s a wonderful synergy in the town,” said Kahn. “It comes from people who care about the town, its history and historic buildings. We all talk, and ideas become a reality,” she said.

Saturday mornings are busy along Main Street in Norway, at least on the particular Labor Day weekend I visited. There were two farmers’ markets. One was located in the small park at the corner of Deering and Main streets. The other was at Old Squire’s Farm Market, located at 493 Main St., next door to C&C Farm.

Across from 493 Main is the Gingerbread House, also known as the Evans-Cummings House, for the two notable residents who owned the house: Richard Evans, who built it, and Charles B. Cummings, who later owned it. The house sits at the western gateway to Main Street and is one of 64 buildings in Norway’s downtown historic district.

In 2006, after years of neglect, there was talk of tearing the house down, townspeople thinking it might be beyond salvaging. Some thought it was a safety hazard and demanded “tear that old thing down.” Fortunately, those with a sense of history considered it unique enough to try to restore the house to its former glory.

The house had been owned by the James Newspapers, which used the house for storage. When the Costello family — owners of the Lewiston-based Sun Journal and Sun Media Group — bought the Advertiser-Democrat in 2005, they also acquired ownership of the house.

After certifying that the house was sound, the Costellos made an offer to donate the house to the town. Stipulations included developing a plan to stabilize and move the house to a suitable location in town and raising funds to sustain the project.

The Gingerbread House is now in the hands of the Gingerbread House Task Force, a nonprofit organization overseeing the restoration project and fundraising.

This effort is symbolic of the spirit of the town — knocked down for a period, but resilient and determined to reinvent itself in the 21st century.

If you want to get a sense of small-town Maine, venture a visit to downtown Norway. If you haven’t been for a few years, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many options are available along its historic Maine Street. Or pick up a sandwich, a salad or a coffee and Danish at one of the local eateries and enjoy the shores along Norway Lake (also known as Lake Pennesseewassee) and the view of the mountains in the distance.

Jim Baumer is a freelance writer. He blogs about Moxie, small towns and other Maine-centric topics at his blog, http://jimbaumerexperience.com/blog. If you’d like him to profile your town, email him at [email protected].

Five good reasons to visit Norway

“You’ll definitely want to check out all the renovated buildings in town, like the Opera House, and the Gingerbread House across the street.”

— Cindy Creps, co-manager of Old Squire’s Farm Market

“I like walking/running, so I’d recommend the Roberts Farm Preserve.”

— Linda Cleveland, one of the owners of C&C Farm

“We have so many great meeting spots in town where people gather: Tucker’s Music Pub, which is one of my favorites, or Cafe Nomad.”

— Irina Kahn, president of Western Maine Art Group

“Visit Norway Lake. Artists have come to the area for years for regeneration, and Norway Lake has always figured prominently in the history of the town. It’s our Walden Pond.”

— Ben Tucker, local historian

“I like that Norway has so many great small businesses. I’d recommend visiting all of them, especially the ones in the Opera House. Or pick up a sandwich at Ari’s (Pizza & Subs) and take it out to the picnic area across from Norway Lake.”

— Sally Holt, Norway resident

Norway: The drive-by

Incorporated: March 9, 1797 (as the town of Rustfield)

Origin of the name: The original tract of land that became Norway was purchased by Captain Henry Rust of Salem, Mass., and was known as Rust’s Plantation or Rustfield. Later, the name was changed to Norway. The name for the new town was going to be “Norage,” an Indian word for falls, referring to the Steep Falls section of the town, however, the word may have been misspelled as “Norway” in the petition for incorporation, so Norway it has remained.

Population: 5,014 (2010 census)

Historical significance: One of the most important industries in Norway’s history was shoe manufacturing. A shoe factory was built in 1872 along Lynn Street and remained in business under a variety of owners for about 100 years. Norway was also known for its snowshoe manufacturing, and Norway-made snowshoes were used by Arctic explorers Peary and MacMillan. A giant snowshoe formerly greeted visitors as they came into town, describing Norway as “Snowshoe Town America.”

Key events: Norway Arts Festival. The three-day festival is held the second weekend in July. The annual Mellie Dunham Shoe & String Festival in February includes presentations, exhibits, snowshoe races and fun for everyone at Roberts Farm Preserve during the day, and fiddling and music at the Grange and Tuckers Pub in the evening.