Jed Prouty Tavern and Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jed Prouty Tavern and Inn
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 57 Main Street, Bucksport, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1780 |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000074 |
The Jed Prouty Tavern and Inn is a very old and important building in Bucksport, Maine. It's located at 57 Main Street in downtown Bucksport. This building was first built around 1780 as a home for two families. Later, around 1820, it became a popular tavern and inn. Many famous people stayed there, including Presidents Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison.
After being mostly empty for some years, the building was changed into a place for seniors to live. Today, it serves as a community center for older adults. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
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About the Jed Prouty Tavern
The Jed Prouty Tavern is on the north side of Main Street. It sits right in the middle of Bucksport. The building is a large, three-story structure made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on the sides and three brick chimneys.
Building's Look and Feel
The front of the building looks balanced and even. It has two main doors under a wide porch. The building shows some simple Greek Revival style. This means it has features like flat columns on the corners and fancy frames around the doorways. Some parts were added to the back of the building in the 1900s.
A Home Becomes an Inn
The oldest part of the tavern was built around 1783. A man named Asa Peabody built it as a two-story house. In 1820, another man named Sparhawk bought the building. He turned it into an inn and tavern. It was a useful stop for people traveling between Bangor and Castine.
The name "Jed Prouty" became popular for the inn in the early 1800s. This name came from a play that featured the building. Around 1850, the building became much larger. A third floor was added, and it was extended to the west. The Greek Revival style likely came from this time.
Famous Visitors and Later Years
Many important national leaders stayed at the inn in the 1800s. These guests included famous politicians like Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, Jefferson Davis, Andrew Jackson, and John Tyler. The building was still working as an inn when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
In the 1990s, the building was updated a lot. It got new features like a sprinkler system and elevators. These changes helped turn it into a care facility for older people. The building was sold in 2011. Today, it is known as the Jed Prouty Assisted Living Center.
