Buxton Powder House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Buxton Powder House
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Location | ME 22, Buxton Center, Maine |
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Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
Built | 1812 |
Built by | Elwell, Theodore |
NRHP reference No. | 76000120 |
Added to NRHP | January 2, 1976 |
The Buxton Powder House is a very old and special building in Buxton, Maine. It was built way back in 1813. This small brick house was used to store important military supplies for the town. It was especially important during the War of 1812. This building is one of only three such structures still standing in Maine! You can find it in a field off Long Plains Road, right near the center of Buxton. It became a nationally recognized historic place in 1976.
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What is a Powder House?
A powder house is a special kind of building. It's also called a military storage magazine. Its main job was to safely store things like gunpowder. It also held lead balls for muskets and flints for firing weapons. These buildings were built to be very strong and safe. They protected these important supplies from weather and accidents.
Why Was It Built?
The Buxton Powder House was built because of the War of 1812. This war was fought between the United States and Great Britain. When the war started in March 1812, towns needed to protect themselves. Buxton decided it was time to build a safe place for its military supplies. Before this, the supplies were kept in someone's private home.
Building the Powder House
The town of Buxton voted to build this important storage place. It was finished in 1813. A builder named Theodore Elwell constructed it. The cost to build it was $59, which was a lot of money back then! Once built, it held all the town's gunpowder, lead, and flints.
What Does It Look Like?
The Buxton Powder House is a small brick building. It measures about 10 feet by 10 feet (about 3 meters by 3 meters). It has a unique roof shape called a pyramidal roof. The building sits on a strong granite foundation. Its walls are very thick, about 1 foot (0.3 meters) thick! This made it very sturdy and safe.
Where Can You Find It?
This historic building stands in a wooded area. It's about 250 meters (about 820 feet) west of Long Plains Road. This road is also known as Maine State Route 22. It has a heavy wooden door. This door is attached with two strong wrought iron hinges. Inside, the walls have wooden shelves. These shelves were used to organize all the military supplies.
Other Powder Houses in Maine
The Buxton Powder House is quite rare. It is only one of three such town-built structures still standing in Maine. The other two similar buildings are located in Hallowell and Wiscasset. These buildings remind us of a time when towns had to be ready to protect themselves. They show us how communities prepared for war long ago.