Adams-Pickering Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Adams-Pickering Block
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Corner of Main and Middle Sts., Bangor, Maine |
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| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | Orff, George W. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000184 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
The Adams-Pickering Block is an old and important building in Bangor, Maine. It stands at the corner of Main and Middle Streets. Built in 1873, it was designed by a local architect named George W. Orff. This building is special because it survived the big Great Fire of 1911 that destroyed many other buildings in Bangor.
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About the Adams-Pickering Block
What Does It Look Like?
The Adams-Pickering Block is in downtown Bangor. It's a four-story building with a unique style called Second Empire. This style often features a special kind of roof called a mansard roof. The building is made of strong granite stone. It also has fancy cast iron decorations.
The building is actually two parts, the Pickering Block and the Adams Block. The Pickering Block is wider, with six sections for windows. The Adams Block has seven sections. The windows on the second and third floors have rounded tops with decorative stones. When it was first built, the ground floor had many cast iron details. Today, the shops on the ground floor look more modern.
Who Built It?
The Adams-Pickering Block was built in 1871. It was designed by George W. Orff, an architect from Bangor. It was built on the spot where a fire happened in 1872. This building was one of Orff's biggest projects in Bangor. It's one of the few buildings from that time that survived both the Great Fire of 1911 and city changes in the 1960s. After this project, George W. Orff moved to Minnesota.
Who Was George W. Pickering?
George W. Pickering (1799-1876) was a very important person in Bangor. He was a successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He was also the president of the Kenduskeag Bank. His family was one of the first to settle in Bangor in 1771.
Pickering also served as the 12th Mayor of Bangor from 1853 to 1854. He was also the Vice President of the Bangor Theological Seminary. There's even a place in Downtown Bangor called Pickering Square named after him. People who knew him said he was the best businessman in Bangor.
The Adams-Pickering Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1974. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
