Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary
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Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary's western façade
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 794-800 Congress St., Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | John Calvin Stevens; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, English Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002469 |
| Added to NRHP | September 25, 1986 |
The Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary was an important old hospital in Portland, Maine. It was located on Congress Street. This building is also known as Holt Hall. A famous architect named John Calvin Stevens designed it. The hospital was built way back in 1891.
After being empty for almost 10 years, the building was changed into homes in 1997. In 1951, this hospital joined with other hospitals. They became what is now the Maine Medical Center. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it is a special historic place.
About the Building
The old Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary building is in Portland's West End. It is on the corner of Congress and Bramhall Streets. It sits just east of the main Maine Medical Center campus.
Building Design
This building is made of brick and is six stories tall. It has stone decorations and a sloped roof with windows. A three-story section extends out from the back. The ground floor looks like a raised basement. It is made of rough-cut stone.
The main entrance is on Bramhall Street. It is inside a tall, rounded archway. On the Congress Street side, there are four storefronts. These have large display windows and doors set back from the street. Stone pillars separate these sections.
History of the Infirmary
The Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary was started in 1886. A doctor named Erastus Eugene Holt founded it. It was one of the first hospitals of its kind in the United States. This building was built for the hospital in 1891.
The design was by John Calvin Stevens, a well-known Portland architect. This building shows a change in his style. He moved from older styles like Queen Anne and Romanesque. He started using the Colonial Revival style more. Stevens and his son, John Howard Stevens, designed large additions in 1916. These additions are mostly hidden from the street.
The hospital continued to be used for medical care until 1980. This was after it joined the Maine Medical Center. Since then, the building has been changed. It is now mostly used for people to live in.
See also
