Market Square Historic District (Houlton, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Market Square Historic District
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Postcard view of Market Square, 1911
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Market Sq., Main, Water and Court Sts., Houlton, Maine |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000214 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1980 |
The Market Square Historic District in Houlton, Maine is a special area. It's like a time capsule of the town's main business area from the late 1800s. This district is found where Market Square, Court Street, Water Street, and Main Street meet. It has many old brick and stone buildings. These buildings were designed by architects and built between 1885 and 1910. This happened after the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad came to town. Because of its history, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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What is the Market Square Historic District?
Houlton was one of the first towns settled in southern Aroostook County. It is still a very important center for business there. The town officially became a town in 1831. But it grew slowly until 1870. That's when the New Brunswick Railway reached Maine.
How the District Grew
In 1893, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad arrived in Houlton. This led to a big boom in building new stores and offices. The downtown area around Market Square was hit by fires in 1884 and 1902. These fires mostly destroyed older wooden buildings. Because of this, new buildings were made from brick and stone.
This is why the district today has many strong brick and stone buildings. They are usually two to four stories tall. They show off different building styles that were popular back then.
Exploring the District's Buildings
The Market Square Historic District is centered where four roads meet. This spot is just east of Pearce Brook, a small stream that winds through town. It's also a short distance south of Interstate 95.
Key Buildings and Architects
Market Square is a wide-open area with parking in the middle. Historic buildings line its east and west sides. One important building here is the First National Bank of Houlton. It's the only building on the square made with a granite front. George M. Coombs designed it, and it was built in 1907.
Three of the eight buildings on the square were designed by Wilfred E. Mansur from Bangor. Even though he designed them, they each look different. Three buildings are on the west side of Court Street, just south of the main crossing. Three more are north of the crossing on Water Street. This includes the old Post Office and Custom House. It has a special style called Romanesque Revival.
Main Street, east of the main crossing, also has many historic buildings. These go all the way to Broadway and Powers Street. Several of these were also designed by Mansur and Coombs. You can see the fire station designed by Mansur. There's also the Elks Lodge, which has a Colonial Revival style. It marks the eastern end of the district.
