Maine Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Maine Street Historic District
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 Location in Nevada
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| Location | Downtown along Maine & Center Sts. & Williams Ave., Fallon, Nevada |
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| NRHP reference No. | 100004098 |
| Added to NRHP | June 27, 2019 |
The Maine Street Historic District is a special part of downtown Fallon, Nevada. It's like a time capsule of old shops and buildings. This area was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, which means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
Discovering Maine Street's Past
How Maine Street Began
The story of Maine Street started in the early 1900s. A man named James W. Richards set up a ranch here first. Later, a state senator named Warren W. Williams bought Richards' ranch.
Senator Williams had a big idea for the area. He decided to name the main street "Maine" after his home state, Maine. He also planned out the land, creating plots for new buildings and businesses.
By 1906, Maine Street was a busy place! It had many different shops like general stores, hotels, and restaurants. There were also drug stores, a butcher, a bakery, a bank, and even a saddle shop.
The Big Earthquake of 1954
In 1954, a very strong earthquake hit the Fallon area. This earthquake caused a lot of damage to the buildings on Maine Street. Many of them were destroyed.
Because of the damage, people had to rebuild. This led to a big change called "modernization." The new buildings were designed in a more modern style for that time.
How Buildings Changed
When buildings were modernized, they often got new looks. For example, old wooden windows were replaced, and new awnings were added over entrances.
Builders used new materials like aluminum siding, steel window frames, and large glass panes. They also used asbestos tiles and concrete bricks.
Here are some examples of buildings that were updated after the earthquake:
- The Woodliff Block (located at 116–126 S. Maine) used to have a fancy, shaped roofline called a parapet. After the earthquake, it was replaced with simple concrete blocks.
- The Fallon Arcade and Churchill County Bank Building (at 131–143 S. Maine) also had its decorative, castle-like parapet removed.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office document "Downtown Fallon Commercial Corridor Architectural Survey Report" by ZoAnn Campana (retrieved on 9 December 2015).
