Blake House (Bangor, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blake House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 Court Street Bangor, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Ryder & Fuller |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000077 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1972 |
The Blake House is a very old and special building located at 107 Court Street in Bangor, Maine. It's also sometimes called Prentiss & Carlisle, Inc. This house was built in 1858 and was designed by a local architect named Calvin Ryder. It's important because it was one of the very first houses in Maine built in a style called Second Empire architecture. Because of its history and unique style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1972.
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What Makes the Blake House Special?
The Blake House is a great example of old architecture. It shows us what fancy homes looked like a long time ago. It's a historic landmark in Bangor.
A Closer Look at the House
The Blake House stands in a quiet neighborhood in Bangor. It is next door to another old building, the Samuel Farrar House. The house has two and a half stories. It is made of wood, but its outside walls look like stone. This effect is created by special boards that are scored and treated.
The roof of the house is very unique. It is a mansard roof, which means it has a special flared shape. This type of roof is a key feature of the Second Empire style. The roof has many small windows called dormers. Most of these dormers have rounded tops.
Unique Features of the Blake House
The front of the house has three main sections. The middle section sticks out a little bit. It has a large dormer window with a round top. The main entrance to the house is covered by a fancy porch. This porch has square posts and decorative carvings.
The windows on the first floor have special decorative tops. These tops are called cornices. The windows on the second floor have fancy frames called eared hoods. All these details make the Blake House look very grand.
The History of the Blake House
The Blake House was built in 1858 for a rich merchant named William Blake. He was a very successful businessman in Bangor. His brother-in-law, Calvin Ryder, designed the house. Calvin Ryder was a well-known architect from Boston.
Why is the Blake House Important?
This house is believed to be one of the first buildings in Maine built in the Second Empire style. This style was popular in France during the time of Napoleon III. It became popular in America too. The Blake House shows the kind of fancy homes built for wealthy people in Bangor. This was just before the American Civil War. Today, the house is used for offices.
