Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for me to walk from my house to downtown Cumberland. But what a spectacular 10 minutes!

You see, I live on Washington Street. I walk every day, and I treasure my time spent on this special street. I walk past big, inviting porches; chubby round turrets; graceful flowering trees; leaded glass windows, sparkling like jewels.

When I walk, I gaze at every house, trying to imagine the families from many years past who have called these majestic beauties “home.”

I think about the backyard barbecues, weddings, porch parties, and good old family dinners that have taken place on this street. History, hospitality, and home seem to intertwine in my musings.

Recently, a group of dedicated volunteers who live on Washington Street gathered recipes from their neighbors, up and down the street, and published the official, “Washington Street Cookbook.” The recipes make for some mouthwatering reading, to be sure! But the cookbook is more than a mere collection of recipes. Indeed, it conveys a flavor of the street itself. It’s almost a copy of my daily walk, in book form.

The cookbook contains beautiful color photographs and black and white digital drawings of every house on the street. The graphics are matched by bits of text, filled with historical tidbits that make each house come alive.

Did you know that Woodrow Wilson was entertained in the house at 519? A bootlegger created and sold his wares out of 643? One of the rooms at 415 is a copy of a room at the White House? A new bride used her diamond ring to etch her wedding date into a window at 700?

In the back of the book, there’s an easy-to read index that explains nine different types of architectural styles you’ll find in the houses here. There are photos of actual Washington Street homes included in each explanation. Now, when I walk, I can tell the difference between Greek Revival and Second Empire styles, and I feel like I’ve learned something.

And then there are the recipes. Well, we’ve done our best at our house to test as many as possible, and in a word, they’re delicious. There’s a great variety of dishes, from appetizers to desserts.

Like all good community cookbooks, the recipes come from local residents, not executive chefs, and the dishes are the tried-and-true variety.

Best of all, you’ll find interesting comments from some of the residents, sprinkled throughout. Sometimes they share some helpful hints for the cook; other times, they give you some historical information that makes you feel like you’ve peeked in the kitchen window of a grand old home.

In short, it’s obvious that a lot of time and effort went into the production of these cookbooks. They’re perfect for cooking enthusiasts, history buffs, or anyone who cherishes the community connections of our hometown. And they make perfect gifts for out-of-town friends and family.

This home-grown success story has a happy resolution ... the book is now in its third printing! But copies are still available. They’re sold at Robert’s Confections, on the Downtown Mall, at 74 Baltimore Street. The price is $22.

In addition, members will sell cookbooks at Heritage Days, June 13 and 14. Their booth will be located on Washington Street, of course, in front of the Gilchrist Museum. Come out and buy a copy for your home.

It’s time to lace up my walking shoes. See you on Washington Street!

Jeanne Bowers

Cumberland