MERRILL CURRIER

Staff photo and caption by Gregory Rec

The wire basket on the front of Merrill Currier's bicycle is filled with cat food. Underneath cans of 9-lives are packages of chicken liver and chicken legs that are also destined for the fifteen felines he feeds.

The half gallon of milk he'll keep for himself.

Currier's shuffling footsteps are drowned out by the rush of traffic as he makes his way along the shoulder of Route 1, pushing his bicycle against the flow of cars. His progress is slow but insistent. When he does stop, it's for a break in the shopping plaza to rest and smoke a cigarette.

Currier, 82, makes the trip from his Ross Road home to downtown Kennebunk three times a week to stock up on groceries and cat food. He leaves his house around 6 a.m. and returns about three hours later. On the way into town, he stops at McDonald's for breakfast: two sausage and egg sandwiches and two to three cups of coffee. From there he'll go to Garden Street Market and maybe the Village Pharmacy to pick up his high blood pressure and diabetes medicine.

Currier has lived in Kennebunk all his life and used to farm pigs, sheep and cattle. He hasn't owned a car since he sold his '38 Ford back in the '60s. He used to walk everywhere until, about 25 years ago, someone gave him a bicycle. Ever since, he's been getting around by bicycle, although these days, he does more pushing than riding.

Currier survives on his Social Security check, food stamps and the goodwill of others. Sometimes, the folks at McDonald's will give him free certificates. On this day, a woman in a Saab pulls over to the side of Route 1 and, crumpling a ten-dollar bill into Currier's hand, apologizes for having missed him last week. He thanks her, repeats yes, he's doing okay, and continues up Route 1 toward his home.

Because he's got cats to feed.

Other Maine Faces:


Peter Bloom


Judy Nisbett


Amy Cote


Charlie Bassett


Caleb Farnum


Kevin Soucy


Abby Freeman


Russell Thompson