Androscoggin Mill Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Androscoggin Mill Block
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Androscoggin Mill Block
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lewiston, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1866 |
| Architect | Thorne, Thomas Dresser |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000367 |
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 2001 |
The Androscoggin Mill Block is a really old brick building in Lewiston, Maine. It's called a 'tenement house' because it was built in 1866 to be homes for families of mill workers. The Androscoggin Mill Company built it. This building is special because it's one of only three like it from the 1800s that are still standing in Lewiston. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
What is the Androscoggin Mill Block?
The Androscoggin Mill Block is located near downtown Lewiston. It's close to the canal that powered the city's factories in the 1800s. This building is one of three very similar buildings on Park Street.
How Does the Building Look?
It is a two-story building made of brick. It has a low, gently sloped roof and a strong foundation made of granite. The front of the building has four sections. It has two doors in the middle on the first floor.
The windows are called 'sash windows'. They have granite pieces above and below them. The roof's edge has decorative Italianate brackets. These are fancy supports that make the building look more interesting. The sides of the building have six windows on each floor.
What Was Inside the Building?
When it was first built, the inside of the building had four separate homes. There were two homes on each floor. A lot of the original woodwork inside is still there. This is true even though the building has been used for different things. It also had indoor plumbing added later on.
Why Was This Building Important?
Lewiston grew very quickly starting in the 1850s. Because of this, big mill companies needed places for their workers to live. Many of these places were 'boarding houses'. These were like dorms with single rooms and shared dining areas.
Housing for Mill Workers
Between 1852 and 1866, about 44 worker housing buildings were built. By the year 2000, only five of them were still standing. Two of these were boarding houses. They were built by the Continental Mill Company.
The Androscoggin Mill Block is special. It is one of only three buildings left that were built specifically for worker families. These buildings were made for the Androscoggin Mill Company. A skilled local builder named Thomas Dresser Thorne constructed them.
Who Owns It Now?
The Androscoggin Mill Company later sold this building. It became private property. When it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, the city of Lewiston owned it.
