Gov. Abner Coburn House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gov. Abner Coburn House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., Skowhegan, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Joseph Bigelow |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000193 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The Gov. Abner Coburn House is a special old building located on Main Street in Skowhegan, Maine. It was built in 1849 and is a great example of Greek Revival architecture, a style that looks like ancient Greek temples. This house was once home to Abner Coburn, a very wealthy person from Skowhegan who even became the Governor of Maine for a time. Because of its history and beautiful design, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
Discover the Coburn House Design
The Coburn House is a large, rectangular building made of wood. It has two and a half stories and a roof that slopes down at the front. The most striking part of the house is its front, which looks like a Greek temple.
Exploring the Temple Front
The front of the house features four tall, fluted (grooved) columns. These are called Ionic columns, and they support a flat, decorative section called an entablature. Above this is a triangular gable, known as a pediment. Inside the pediment, you'll see two windows placed evenly.
Behind these columns, the wall is smooth and has three windows on each floor. There's also a porch on the second floor with a low railing.
Main Entrance and Details
The main door to the house is on the right side. It's set back a bit and is part of a section that sticks out from the house. This entrance also has Ionic columns and flat, decorative pillars called pilasters on either side.
The corners of the house have paneled pilasters. These support a simple entablature that goes all the way around the house, just below the roof.
Meet Abner Coburn: Maine's Governor
The Coburn House was built in 1849 for two brothers, Abner and Philander Coburn. They were both unmarried and were among the richest people in Maine at the time. They owned a huge amount of timberland, more than 700 square miles (1,800 km2) of forests!
Abner Coburn's Wealth and Influence
By 1882, Abner Coburn was reported to be worth a massive $6 to $7 million. He was involved in many big businesses, including the Maine Central Railroad. He also served on the boards of important schools like Colby College and the University of Maine.
Abner Coburn served one term as the Governor of Maine in 1863. This shows how important and influential he was in the state.
The Master Builder: Joseph Bigelow
The person who built the Coburn House was Joseph Bigelow. He was a very skilled builder from Skowhegan and was known throughout Maine for his work.
Bigelow's Craftsmanship
Joseph Bigelow built other famous buildings too. These include the Samuel Farrar House in Bangor and the old First Baptist Church in Skowhegan, which was built in 1844. Bigelow was so talented that he even hand-carved the beautiful columns and decorative tops (capitals) you see on the Coburn House.
