Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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White Memorial Building
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 109 Main St., Houlton, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Kendall, Taylor & Stevens |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000376 |
| Added to NRHP | January 15, 1980 |
The Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum is a cool place to explore history! It's located in the White Memorial Building at 109 Main Street in Houlton, Maine. This museum opened in 1937. The beautiful building, which looks like an old-fashioned house, was built in 1903. It was given to the town by the White family.
This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Inside, the Houlton Museum has many interesting things. You can see old items and papers from Ricker Classical Institute and Ricker College. There's also a collection of photos by E. B. White. The museum displays military items, things people used in their homes long ago, and even art from the Houlton POW camp during World War II.
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum has many different rooms. Each room shows a unique part of history. You can learn about local schools, military history, and how people lived in the past.
- The Ricker Room
- The Military Room
- Sarah Houlton Kitchen
- The Children's Room
- Fancy Goods Room
- Dining Room
- Edward B. White Photo Collection
- Camp Houlton & POW Camp
- Col. Frank M. Hume
The White Memorial Building's Design and Story
The museum building is on the south side of Main Street. It is located in Houlton's downtown area, near Broadway and Kelleran Streets. It is also close to the Cary Library.
Building Design and Style
The White Memorial Building is a beautiful two-story building. It was designed by Kendall, Taylor and Stevens from Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1903. The building has a style called Colonial Revival. This means it looks like grand homes from early American history.
A main feature of the building is a large porch area. This porch covers the middle part of the front of the building. It has four tall, round columns that hold up the roof. The main entrance has a fancy design around the door. Inside, the building still has its original wooden details. These details are elegant but not too showy.
A House with a History
The house was built in 1903 by Mrs. Mary Louise (Woodbury) MacIntyre. Her father, Eben Woodbury, had built three different houses on this same spot. Sadly, all of them were destroyed by fire. The last one burned down in a big town fire in 1902.
After Mrs. MacIntyre passed away in 1934, Stella King White bought the house. She then gave it to the town to be used as a museum. This generous gift helped create the Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum. Today, a small part of the first floor also houses the Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
How the Museum Started
The Houlton Historical and Art Museum was started by Mr. Ransford W. Shaw in 1937. He was very interested in Houlton's history. Mr. Shaw was the museum's president until he passed away.
In 1937, Mr. Shaw suggested creating a museum. Many people liked the idea. A public meeting was held, and a group called the "Aroostook Historical and Art Museum" was formed. After some challenges, they rented a room in the Nickerson Block in 1938.
Later, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. White bought and donated the beautiful colonial home. This home was built by Mrs. Marion (Woodbury) MacIntyre after the big fire in 1902. It became the permanent home for the museum's collections. The building was also known as the Donworth House. This was because Mrs. MacIntyre's daughter, Mrs. Marion L. Donworth, lived there for several years.
By 1948, the museum had collected over 1200 historical items. Many people helped the museum grow. Arthur Brown was a curator, and Mrs. Edith Donald took his place later. Mrs. Elizabeth Lakin, Mr. Shaw's daughter, also served as president. George W. Shaw, Mr. R. W. Shaw's son, gave a lot of money to help keep the building in good shape. The Whites' gift of the house was a great service to the community.
See also
