Pilsbury Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pilsbury Block
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Pilsbury Block
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 200-210 Lisbon St., Lewiston, Maine |
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| Built | 1870 |
| Built by | Jesse T. Stevens |
| Architect | William H. Stevens; Fassett & Stevens |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000446 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1983 |
The Pilsbury Block is a really old and important building located at 200-210 Lisbon Street in Lewiston, Maine. It was built way back in 1870. This building shows off a cool mix of old architectural styles, mainly Italianate and some Romanesque touches. Because it's so special, the Pilsbury Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's officially recognized as a historic treasure!
Contents
What Does the Pilsbury Block Look Like?
The Pilsbury Block stands tall on Lisbon Street, which is Lewiston's main shopping area. It's right on the corner where Lisbon Street meets Pine Street. This building is made of brick and stone and has three stories.
Cool Architectural Features
- Rounded Corner: One of the coolest parts is its narrow, rounded corner right where the two streets meet.
- Arched Windows: Look up at the second and third floors! You'll see big sections with arched panels. Inside each panel, there are two windows. The windows on the top floor have round arches, while the ones on the second floor have slightly flatter, segmented arches.
- Ground Floor: Down on the street level, you'll find storefronts. These have display windows and entrances, often with smaller windows above them called transom windows.
- Fancy Top: The very top of the building has a decorative brick design called a cornice. It adds a fancy finish to the building.
A Bit of History: Building the Pilsbury Block
The oldest part of the Pilsbury Block, the corner section, was built in 1870. It was built for a person named George H. Pilsbury. The builder was Jesse T. Stevens, who was an engineer from the local area.
Who Designed It?
The architect who designed the first part of the building might have been William H. Stevens. He worked closely with George Pilsbury on other projects. A few years later, in 1873, the building got bigger! Three more sections were added along Lisbon Street. This addition was designed by Stevens, who was now working with another architect as part of a team called Fassett & Stevens.
The Pilsbury Block is one of the oldest commercial buildings still standing in Lewiston. It's also a rare example of a building that mixes the Italianate style (which was popular in Italy and used lots of arches and decorative details) with the Romanesque style (which often features strong, rounded arches like old Roman buildings).
Today, the Pilsbury Block is part of the Lewiston Public Library.
