Old Hancock County Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Hancock County Buildings
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Court St., Ellsworth, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1834 |
| Architect | Moore, John L. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000161 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
The Old Hancock County Buildings are two historic buildings in Ellsworth, Maine. They are located on Court Street, where three roads meet. These buildings were first built in 1834 and 1838. One was the Ellsworth Town Hall, and the other was the courthouse for Hancock County, Maine. Today, they are home to the Courthouse Art Gallery. These special buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
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What Do the Buildings Look Like?
The former courthouse and town hall stand on a triangular piece of land. This land is bordered by Court Street, US 1, and Maine State Route 172. It is located across the Union River from the main part of Ellsworth. The land is mostly grassy and slopes up towards Court Street. The courthouse is on the south side, and the town hall is on the north. Both buildings face east towards the green space.
Building Materials and Style
The courthouse has a first floor made of brick. However, both buildings are mostly made of wood. They are 1-1/2 stories tall and have a side gable roof. Their outer walls are covered with clapboard siding. The buildings sit on strong granite foundations.
Special Architectural Features
The roofs of both buildings extend over a covered walkway called an arcade. These walkways are supported by columns in the Doric order, a classic Greek style. The courthouse has eight columns at its front and back. The town hall has six columns at its front and back. The front of the courthouse also has two large dormers. These are windows that stick out from the sloped roof. They have a gable roof and paired double windows. A similar dormer is found on the back of the courthouse.
A Look Back at Their History
The land where these buildings stand was given to the town in 1833 by the Hebert family. There was a special condition: the town hall had to be built there. Also, if Ellsworth became the main town (the county seat) for Hancock County, the courthouse would also be built on this land.
From Town Hall to Courthouse
The town hall was built in 1834. In 1837, Ellsworth was chosen as the county seat. Because of this, the town hall and the land were given to the county. The county then built the courthouse in 1838. For many years, the county used these buildings as a courthouse and a place to keep important records.
New Uses for Old Buildings
In 1886, the county moved its courthouse and record-keeping offices to newer, bigger buildings. The old buildings were then given back to the city. The city decided to use the former courthouse as a high school. Later, the school expanded into the former town hall. The two buildings were connected by a covered walkway that was not heated.
Saving the Buildings
The high school closed in 1924. After that, the buildings started to fall apart. They were even thought to be too unsafe to use. But many people in the community spoke up and wanted to save them. Because of this public support, the buildings were slowly repaired in the 1960s. After their repairs, community groups sometimes used them.
The Courthouse Art Gallery Today
In 2005, the courthouse building was sold to private owners. There were rules in place to make sure the building would be preserved. Today, it is known as the Courthouse Gallery. This art gallery has since grown and now also uses the building that was once the town hall.
See also
