Abial Cushman Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abial Cushman Store
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. E of ME 168, Lee, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001906 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1990 |
The Abial Cushman Store is a very old and important building located in Lee, Maine. It was built way back in 1840! This building is special because it's one of the few old shops left from the 1800s in the area. It also shows off a cool style of building design called Greek Revival architecture. People also know it by other names like the Lee Forest Grange or Home on the Grange.
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What is the Abial Cushman Store?
The Abial Cushman Store is in the quiet village center of Lee. You can find it just east of Maine State Route 168 on the north side of Lee Road (Maine State Route 6). It's a rectangular building made of wood. It has two floors and a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side gable roof.
Building Features
The outside of the building is covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. There's a porch that runs all the way across the front of the building on the first floor. The front corners of the building have flat, decorative columns called pilasters. These pilasters support a decorative band, or entablature, just below the roof.
The second floor of the building has windows. The first floor is split into two parts. On the left side, there's a shop area with a main entrance in the middle. This entrance is surrounded by large, fixed windows. On the right side, there's another window and a door that leads to the upstairs. At the back of the main building, there are several smaller sections that extend out, like a telescope.
History of the Building
The Abial Cushman Store was built in 1840. It is thought to be the oldest commercial building still standing in the town of Lee. Because it was in the town center and close to the important Lee Academy, it was used as a general store for many years. A general store sells many different kinds of goods, like food, tools, and clothes.
From Store to Grange Hall
In 1884, the building became the meeting place for the local chapter of the Grange. The Grange is a community organization for farmers and their families. It helps them learn new things, support each other, and work together. The building served as the Grange hall for most of the 1900s.
Modern Use and Recognition
Since its time as a Grange hall, the building has been repaired and updated. Today, it is used as a place for shops and community events. The Abial Cushman Store is important because it shows us what old buildings looked like and how people lived in the past. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1990. This list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
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