Wheeling, Vamping, Fair Play & Resilience: The Story of The Belfast Center

The red and white building on Field Street in Belfast had always been an enigma to Senior College instructor and member Barbara Ford-Latty. On learning of Senior College's move to The Belfast Center, her architectural curiosity was aroused. When was it constructed? Why was it constructed? Why this location? What need did it fill in this community? What need does it fill now? Why was it painted red and white?

Barbara's research was confirmation that if you want to understand a building that has stood the 'test of time', you need to understand the community which surrounds it. Belfast had turned on its heel and created innovative solutions through fires, depression, wars, loss of industrial identity, and massive pollution without fuss and fanfare. It just 'got to work and got it done' and met the challenges.

It is apparent that the success of The Belfast Center mirrors that style of resilience and innovation. It is an exemplar, quite simply, of the Maine way.

Join us for a short presentation that answers these questions, and celebrates a unique building and a unique community. The presentation will be approximately 1 hour, with time for questions after.

NOTE: This event is free, but registration is required. Please register online here, or email info@belfastseniorcollege.org to sign up.

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Presenter: Barbara Ford-Latty
Barbara's love of architecture began as a six-year old, building her perfect house with Lincoln Logs under the shrubbery. She graduated from Wellesley College; major - architecture, Phi Beta Kappa. She first worked in the Lowell, Massachusetts Office of Historic Preservation, then for architectural firms in Cambridge and Topsfield, MA.

Photo credit: Republican Journal, June 30, 1949, pg.1, courtesy of Special Collections, Belfast Free Library