Though the street signs at the centers of U.S. towns may not all read Main , the moniker evokes a collective impression in American society—a certain nostalgia that harkens back to a simpler life, a sense of belonging, a safe place to go. Bucolic Kent County , Maryland’s smallest, delivers this sensibility on nearly every street you travel. Perhaps it’s due to geography. Practically an island, with roughly 93% of its borders defined by the Chesapeake Bay and the Sassafras and Chester rivers, the county is naturally preserved from the hustle of nearby Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia. Or, might it be in the air? Breathe the salty spray along the bay, the earthy aroma of winding rivers or the pastoral perfume of nearby fruit and vegetable farms, and your body immediately downshifts to a pace that befits a Main Street stroll. In 1998, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development created the Main Street Maryland Program with a vision to restore and revitali
A collection of writing samples by Lesley Kontowicz