Stick that in your pipe and Drink it, Dow.

The 1855 Governor of Portland, ME, Neal S. Dow was an ardent Prohibitionist. He set into place the Maine Law of 1855 which banned the sale and manufacture of liquor except for "medicinal and mechanical" purposes.

Which interests me. I understand where the medicinal part comes from but what on earth is the mechanical bit?

Anyway, the point of this missive is that on Neal Street there's a Gulf station and on Dow street there's a 7/11 and since both are within easy walking distance, they serve as the purchase points of most of my beer not bought at a bar.

Irony? Perhaps. I'm sure Dow's spinning in his grave thinking about it.

EDIT:

Here's a map!

View Larger Map

Lemme walk you through it. My house is there on Marshall Street in the lower left corner. It's on the left next to the "St." Walk up Marshall, hang a right on Brackett and then walk the wrong way down Neal Street. That's the Gulf station on the corner of Neal and Congress. Take a right on Congress and walk to Dow Street. That's where the 7/11 is.

Neat!