Liberty Hall (Machiasport, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Liberty Hall
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 92, Machiasport, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Andrew R. Gilson |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000089 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
Liberty Hall is a really old and important building in Machiasport, Maine. It's like the town's main meeting place, where people gather for town meetings and fun community events. This beautiful building was built way back in 1873 and has a special look called Italianate architecture. It's been a central part of Machiasport for over 100 years! In 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very special historical landmark.
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About Liberty Hall: Machiasport's Historic Center
Liberty Hall stands proudly on the west side of Port Road, also known as Maine State Route 92. It is right in the heart of Machiasport village. The building sits on a small hill, looking out towards the Machias River. It has always been a key spot for the town.
What Does Liberty Hall Look Like?
Liberty Hall is a two-story building made of wood. It has a front-facing gable roof and a strong stone foundation. The outside is covered with clapboard siding.
Right at the front of the roof, there's a small tower. This tower has a fancy open viewing platform called a belvidere. It has cool round-arch openings and special corner supports. A mansard roof and a weathervane top it off. This roof is actually a copy of the building's first roof. The original one was changed for a while but has now been brought back.
The front of the building looks balanced and even. There's a double-door entrance in the middle. It has a decorative piece above it with brackets. On either side of the entrance, you'll see double windows. Taller versions of these windows are on the second floor. The middle windows on the second floor have round-arch tops. All the windows have similar decorative tops. The corners of the building have special designs, too.
Inside Liberty Hall: A Place for Everyone
When you step inside Liberty Hall, you enter a small front area. On the first floor, there's a large meeting space. The second floor has a performance hall with a stage. This was perfect for plays and shows!
The town decided to build this hall in 1873. A contractor and politician named Andrew Gilson finished the building the next year. Liberty Hall was used for many things, not just town meetings. It was a place for community events and meetings for groups like the Grange. It also hosted traveling shows and performances.
Bringing Liberty Hall Back to Life
In 2000, the town had to close Liberty Hall because of problems with its structure. But don't worry! A group called the Friends of Liberty Hall is working hard to fix it up. They have already restored the outside of the building. This includes bringing back the tower's original look. Now, they are raising money to restore the inside. Soon, Liberty Hall will be ready for many more years of community fun!
