Graham Building (Bangor, Maine) facts for kids
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The Graham Building was built in 1911. It's a cool yellow-brick building in downtown Bangor, Maine. You can find it at the corner of Harlow and Central Streets. This building is a great example of the Romanesque Revival style. It's also a very important part of the area that was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1911. This historic area is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place recognized for its history.
Discovering the Graham Building's History
The Graham Building was designed by a talented architect named Wilfred E. Mansur. A man named John R. Graham (1847–1915) asked for it to be built. He was the president of the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. This company used to be called the Bangor Railway and Electric Company.
John R. Graham: A Visionary Leader
John R. Graham helped Bangor change a lot. It used to be a city mostly known for lumber. He helped it become a place with more factories and businesses. He did this by providing affordable electricity. This power came from dams built on the Union River in Ellsworth, Maine. It also came from dams on the Penobscot River at Veazie, Maine.
Bangor was a leader in using electricity. It was the first city in New England to have an electric streetcar system. It was also one of the first in the entire United States! An earlier local businessman, Francis Clergue, helped make this happen. He later built huge hydropower centers in Canada. John Graham helped bring together and manage Bangor's electric companies. He had strong connections with the General Electric Corporation.
Rising from the Ashes: After the Great Fire
The Graham Building was one of the first buildings finished after the terrible Great Fire of 1911. This fire destroyed about half of Bangor's business area. The building stands six stories tall. It is made of yellow pressed brick. It also has a decorative metal top part called a cornice.
When it first opened, the Graham Building held offices for the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. It also housed the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad offices. The first floor once had a pharmacy. Today, a unique store called The Willie Wags is on the first floor. The entrance on Central Street is home to 98 Wake N' Shake. The upper floors of the building are used by the owners, Rudman Winchell, who are lawyers.
There was an older Graham Building before this one. It was also named after John R. Graham. That building was on the next lot over on Central Street. Sadly, it was destroyed in the 1911 fire.
