Belfast Commercial Historic District facts for kids
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Belfast Commercial Historic District
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Masonic Temple
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. between Church and Cross Sts., Belfast, Maine |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Part of | Belfast Historic District (ID86002733) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000257 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 4, 1980 |
| Designated CP | August 21, 1986 |
The Belfast Commercial Historic District is a special area in downtown Belfast, Maine. It includes two blocks of the city's main business area. This district has some of the best-preserved and most interesting old buildings. These buildings show how Belfast grew in the mid-to-late 1800s. Back then, Belfast was a very important port on Penobscot Bay. The district stretches along Main Street, from Church Street north to Washington Street. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is recognized as an important historical place in the United States. The district is also part of the larger Belfast Historic District.
What is the Belfast Commercial Historic District?
The city of Belfast is located on the west side of Penobscot Bay. The Passagassawakeag River flows into the bay here. Belfast became an official city in 1853. By then, it was a major center for building ships and for shipping goods. In the second half of the 1800s, steamboats connected Belfast to other ports. A railroad also linked it to big cities like Boston and Portland. Belfast has also been the main city for Waldo County since 1827. This means it's where the county government is located.
Exploring the Historic Downtown Area
Belfast's downtown area has streets that run alongside the southern bank of the river. Main Street first runs straight towards a big intersection. This intersection is where Church and Beaver Streets meet. The historic district includes the two blocks north of this intersection. It also includes buildings on nearby side streets. There are 47 buildings in total within the district.
Most of these buildings were built after big fires. These fires damaged the downtown area in 1865 and 1873. However, some older buildings did survive.
Important Buildings in the District
Several buildings in the district are very notable:
- The Waldo County Courthouse was built in 1853.
- The City Block was built in 1850.
- Both the Courthouse and City Block were designed by Benjamin S. Deane. He was an architect from Bangor.
- The Customhouse and Post Office was built in 1855. It was designed by Ammi B. Young.
- The Masonic Temple is a well-known building. It stands out at the Church Street intersection.
- The Belfast National Bank is another important building.
- Both the Masonic Temple and Belfast National Bank were built in the late 1870s. They were designed by George M. Harding from Portland.
