Gen. John Williams House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gen. John Williams House
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Gen. John Williams House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 62 High St., Bangor, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1822 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000195 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1978 |
The Gen. John Williams House is a very old and important house located at 62 High Street in Bangor, Maine. It was built in the early 1820s and is thought to be the oldest brick house in the city. It's also one of the few buildings in Bangor that shows off the "Federal" style of architecture.
This house was built by John Williams. He was a successful businessman and a leader in the local army group (called a militia) during his time. The house was recognized as a special historical place in 1978. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history.
About the Williams House
The Williams House sits on the north side of High Street. This street is mostly for homes and is close to the main part of Bangor where businesses are. The house is made of brick and has two and a half stories. It has five windows across the front and three windows deep.
The roof slopes down on the sides, and there are four chimneys. The main entrance is in the middle of the house. It's set back a bit in a wide opening. This opening has stone above it and special side panels. There are also tall, narrow windows next to the door and a fan-shaped window above it. The other windows are simple and have stone sills and tops. The front windows also have shutters.
Who Was John Williams?
John Williams was a very successful businessman in Bangor. He was also a military leader. He served in the local state militia, which was like a volunteer army, during the War of 1812. This war was fought between the United States and Great Britain.
Later, in 1828, John Williams became a brigadier general. This is a high rank in the military. He bought the land for this house in 1822. By 1825, he was paying taxes on the house, meaning it was built by then.
Williams' Community Role
John Williams was very involved in his community. He helped with the local fire brigade, which put out fires. He was also the president of the local library group. This means he helped lead the library association.
He also worked as the "registrar of probate" for the county. This job involved keeping official records for things like wills and estates. In 1835, John Williams sold the house to Dr. William Mason. The Mason family owned the house for a very long time, until the 1950s.
