From clock towers to the tunnel, explore the secret spaces of Biddeford

Maine is old.

Not paleolithic old, or even Roman Empire old.

But in relation to US history, Maine's got some ancient numbers. Most of our towns have done a stellar job maintaining buildings that are 100 or 200 years old - or older. We walk the same halls as our friends from "back in the day." Those brick walls lining our apartment or office building were stacked by men whose names our grandfathers don't even remember.

My meaning: There's history all over the place. Some of it's been modernized into fashionable boutique space or couch-lined coffee shops. But some of it rests quietly behind doors we regular folk aren't permitted to open.

Heart of Biddeford - a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Biddeford - is opening some of those doors to history during its upcoming "Secret Spaces, Historic Places" event taking place on Saturday, June 6.

I had the happy opportunity to join a "trial tour" alongside Heart of Biddeford board members and volunteers on Tuesday - and was able to get a glimpse of some of the downtown's secret spots.

We started at the City Hall clock tower. Alternating and incongruous staircases led the way (where, I suspect, Escher got his inspiration) to the roof of the building.

A small window below the clock face was open - and another tour-goer waved from inside.

We followed another set or two of stairs to the inside of the clock tower - the machinery clicking away the minutes. The bell, I was told, no longer works. It still sits patiently at the top of the tower, awaiting the day when funds pull through and it can fulfill it's bell purpose ringing the hour, every hour, for another hundred years.

Until then, the sturdy fella has taken to writing solemn haikus on the clock tower wall.

I took a peek out the small window myself. It's historically used by workers to climb out and access the outside of the tower for maintenance and restoration. For those of us with zero intention of squeezing out of its slender aperture, it offers a fine clock tower view of the town.

Next we entered a vacant downtown storefront (I'm told Reny's was its most recent occupant) and took the stairs to the upper floors. Here, original wallpaper still accents the walls, albeit faded and peeling.

There's also a large theater space - though the dancing of dust particles seems to be the only theatrics these walls have seen in decades. One volunteer mentioned that the space may have been used for boxing matches and also served as a movie theater.

But by far the tour highlight is its lowest stop: the thirty-foot tunnel running beneath the Lincoln Mill complex. Tons of water onced flooded this tunnel. Now, it lies empty and dry (which, by lucky coincidence, makes it easier to walk through). Unfortunately the guide who planned on showing us around here wasn't able to make it, so I wasn't able to get inside.

But Vicki Lane graciously shared a stellar photo she took of the tunnel (it's the same one used on all the publicity posters).

[Photo courtesy Vicki Lane www.thephotodocs.com]

To experience the full tour yourself - and afterward dance the eve away at North Dam Mill - check out the Secret Spaces, Historic Places tour on June 6.

Event info: Secret Spaces, Historic Places on June 6

To register ($25), see the Heart of Biddeford website