Auburn–Harpswell Association Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Auburn–Harpswell Association Historic District
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 123, South Harpswell, Maine |
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| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | Merriman, Leon Blake |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Shingle Style, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000615 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1985 |
The Auburn–Harpswell Association Historic District is a special area in southern Harpswell, Maine. It has many summer homes built in the early 1900s. This district includes ten houses built in the Shingle style. There is also a dining hall in the Colonial Revival style and a meeting hall in the Greek Revival style.
The Auburn Colony, a group of business people from Auburn, Maine, created this area. They built these homes and buildings. In 1985, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
About the Harpswell Colony
The town of Harpswell is on the coast of Maine. It has several pieces of land that stretch out into Casco Bay. Some of these are islands connected by bridges. The main western part of Harpswell goes from Brunswick down to Potts Point.
The Auburn Colony is located in South Harpswell. It is on the west side of Harpswell Neck Road (Maine State Route 123). A small network of roads leads to the ten houses. The two main community buildings are just north of these homes.
History of the Colony
The Auburn Colony started in 1877. A group of business people from Auburn founded it. Their goal was to create a place for "society, health, and recreation." They wanted a nice spot to relax and spend time together.
At first, twenty small cottages were built. These homes were in the Gothic Victorian style. Sadly, a big fire destroyed all these cottages in 1899. However, the two community buildings survived the fire.
The colony was rebuilt after the fire. Fewer members joined this time. Ten new houses were built in the Shingle style. These homes are two and a half stories tall. Three of these houses were designed by the firm of Coombs & Gibbs from Lewiston, Maine. Besides the homes and community buildings, the colony also has a saltwater swimming pool and a small beach.
