A Place Called Hope

Maine has some wonderful town names. For my eighth visit on this adventure to see all of our state, I went to Hope.

People have been going to Hope for a long time. Less than two thousand individuals call it home. Usually folks are passing through on their way to Camden, a popular coastal tourist destination ten minutes away.

Sitting at the crossroads in Hope is one of Maine’s oldest general stores which opened in 1832. According to the New England Historical Society, general stores had their “heyday” between 1820 to 1860. Though our world is much more connected than it was during that time period, Hope General Store is still a place where you can catch up with your neighbors while you buy some groceries or pick up a gift or order lunch. And while you’re consolidating errands, bring along any letters you need to mail because this is also the location of the post office in Hope.

While at Hope General Store, I met Damon McClure. He and his wife moved to Hope from out of state and bought the business in early 2019. While it is difficult to imagine that Hope has an issue with rush hour traffic, the new owners don’t need to worry about the commute. They live in an apartment above the store!

The next time your travels take you through the middle of Hope, stop in and congratulate the McClures on keeping the general store tradition alive in our state.

I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check here to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this adventure, see the about page.