ROCKLAND, Maine — Every building on Rockland’s Main Street tells a story, and city officials have taken a significant step to make sure those stories aren’t lost.

The Rockland City Council voted unanimously on Monday to create the city’s first local historic district along the Main Street corridor. The designation is intended to preserve the area’s historical character while still giving property owners flexibility when making exterior changes.

Historian Ann Morris, who chairs the commission and helped lead the effort, said the district allows residents to understand better the economic forces that shaped Rockland.

“It makes you realize how important the industries of Rockland were—the lyme industry, the shipbuilding industry, and the vibrant downtown,” she said.

The district stretche

See Full Page