Old Town House (Union, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Town House (Former)
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 128 Town House Rd., Union, Maine |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Built by | Cobb, Ebenezer |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001419 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 2001 |
The Old Town House, also known as the Union Town House, is a special historic building in Union, Maine. It was built way back in 1840. For many years, it was the town's main meeting place, like a community center. It was also used for many fun social events.
Today, the local history group owns it. They use it as a place for people to meet and gather. Because of its long history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This list includes important places across the country.
Contents
What Does the Old Town House Look Like?
The Old Town House is a one-and-a-half story building. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with flat wooden boards called clapboards. The building has simple decorations around its doors and windows.
The main entrance has a double door, which was added later. Inside, the building mixes two old styles: Greek Revival and Late Victorian. These styles came from changes made in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Inside the Building
When you go inside, you first enter a small entryway. On one side, there is a kitchen and a place to buy tickets. On the other side, stairs lead up to a small room for showing movies. The main room has a curved ceiling. A stage area takes up about one-fifth of the building. This is where performances or speakers would stand.
The Story of the Old Town House
The Old Town House was built in 1840 by a local builder named Ebenezer Cobb. At first, the town said it could only be used for town business. This meant things like town meetings where people discussed local rules.
Early Uses and Changes
In 1845, the rules changed. The hall could then be used for many other things. Over the next 100 years, it hosted social events and plays. It was even used for church services for a short time.
In 1887, a stage was added to the main hall. This made it even better for performances. Later, in 1917, it was set up to show movies. Imagine watching a movie in a building that's almost 100 years old!
New Owners and Today
The town stopped using the building for official business in 1952. They sold it to the local American Legion group. The American Legion is a group for military veterans. They continued to let people use the building for events.
However, the American Legion group closed down in 1972. The building then went back to the town. The town later gave it to the Union Historical Society. This group still uses the Old Town House as a place for community gatherings and events. It continues to be an important part of Union's history and community life.
