Former Fryeburg Town House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fryeburg Town House, Former
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 5 E side, .1 mi. N of jct. with Corn Shop Rd., Fryeburg, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001295 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1992 |
The Former Fryeburg Town House is an old and important building in Fryeburg, Maine. It was built way back in 1847. For over 130 years, it was the main meeting place for the town. People still use it today to vote in elections. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
What Does the Town House Look Like?
This building is a single-story structure made of wood. It has a pointed roof and sits on a strong granite base. You can see a brick chimney sticking out from the roof. There's also a small square vent with its own little roof.
The Town House is located on the east side of Maine State Route 5. It's just north of where Corn Shop Road meets the main road. The front of the building faces the street. It has a main door in the middle, with windows on each side. Above the door, there's a small, eight-sided window. You can also see a sign that says "1847," which is when the building was built.
On the south side, there's a ramp. This ramp helps people in wheelchairs get into the building. At the back, there's a small part added on. This part holds the restrooms. Inside, the building has an open layout. It features wide wooden floors and wood panels on the lower part of the walls. The rest of the walls have their original plaster.
A Look Back: History of the Town House
The town of Fryeburg was first settled in 1762. It officially became a town in 1775. For a long time, it was mostly just scattered farms. The first meeting places were in the center of town. This is close to where the Town House stands today. But this area never became a big business center.
In 1847, the town decided to build this Town House. They set aside $700 for its construction. An unknown builder finished the building later that year. The way the roof is built is similar to how barns were made back then. The plaster on the walls was also done using an older method.
When it was first built, the Town House likely had simple Greek Revival style. The fancy decorations on the roof were probably added later. These changes happened during renovations in 1909.
The building was the town's main meeting spot for many years. It was used from 1848 until 1983. Even today, it's still used as a polling place. This means people in Fryeburg come here to cast their votes. Over time, the main activities of the town moved south. This left the Fryeburg Center area as a quiet, rural spot.
