The Times Record: What is the mission of the Bath Freight Shed Alliance?

BFSA: To establish the historic Bath Freight Shed as a viable community center for the people of the city of Bath and surrounding areas for activities involving preservation, health, the arts, education and sustainability.

More specifically, our mission is accomplished through six basic programs:

— The restoration of the Freight Shed, built in 1894 as a community facility.

— The site for construction of the Virginia, a replica of the vessel built in Popham Colony in 1607-08.

— A food hub, home to the Bath Winter Farmers Market, various food-related events linking healthy foods and eating by bringing together local farms and food vendors, local chefs and consumers.

— A photographic historic transportation exhibition, featuring old photographs of Bath and its surrounding towns covering rail, ferries, fire engines, construction of the bridges over the Kennebec, trolleys, and road and bridge development.

— Art exhibitions featuring farm and food.

— Education for all ages, currently focusing on the Bath Regional Career and Training Center, and working together on food, electrical and carpentry work.

TR: How do you fulfill that mission?

BFSA: Collaboration and working together to support other area nonprofits. We seek to implement these programs by combining local volunteers at many levels of skill, interest and talent with adequate funding to produce events of high quality and local impact.

We work with Access Health, Art Van, Bath Farmers Market, Bath Regional Career & Technical Center, Bath Rotary, Habitat for Humanity, 7 Rivers ReStore, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Main Street Bath, Maine Preservation, Maine’s First Ship and Sagadahoc Preservation.

TR: What are the biggest challenges your organization faces?

BFSA: In our fourth year of full operation, we have transitioned an embryonic idea to a functioning organization with a 15-member board, including professionals in various fields, and a volunteer and supporter base of more than 350 people or families with an investment of almost $100,000 in the Freight Shed itself.

The Winter Farmers Market and our Full Moon dinner events have been a great success, and we look forward to establishing the historic photographic exhibit.

TR: What is something people do not know about Bath Freight Shed Alliance?

BFSA: The building was constructed by Maine Central Railroad to house produce and goods and had train tracks running along two sides of the building. It also had a twostory building on the southside of the shed, used as overnight facilities for crew members and others. Local people and organizations can access the shed for missionrelated events.

The other “not so secret” news about the shed is that the Saturday morning farmers market is a real community event — good food, good people and good fun.

TR: How can people best support your mission?

BFSA: Volunteer… Come to the Winter Farmers Market and join in one or more of our events — see our blog for our calendar.

dkim@timesrecord.com

NAME: Bath Freight Shed
Alliance Inc.
FOUNDED: Jan. 11, 2011
STREET ADDRESS: 27 Commercial St., Bath, ME 04530
MAILING ADDRESS: 348
Bald Head Road, Arrowsic, ME
04530
PHONE NUMBER: Joan
Detel, 389-9162; Wiebke
Theodore, 443-5450; Don Kornrumpf, 443-3450
WEBSITE: www.bathfreightshed.blogspot.com