Poland Spring Bottling Plant and Spring House facts for kids
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Poland Spring Bottling Plant and Spring House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Preservation Way, Poland, Maine |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Wilkinson, Harry C. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Part of | Poland Springs Historic District (ID13000595) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001354 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 22, 1984 |
| Designated CP | August 13, 2013 |
The Poland Spring Bottling Plant and Spring House are two important buildings in Poland, Maine. They were built in 1907. These buildings were once part of the famous Poland Spring Resort. This resort was known for its natural spring water. Today, the same water is still bottled and sold under the Poland Spring brand name.
The Poland Spring Resort was the biggest and most successful summer resort in Maine. These historic buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The old spring house is now home to the Poland Spring Museum and Environmental Education Center. You can visit it during certain times of the year. The museum shows the history of the company and how they bottle water. It also has cool science displays and old items from the past.
Contents
Discovering the Poland Spring Buildings
The Poland Spring Bottling Plant and Spring House are located on Preservation Way. This is behind the modern Poland Spring Inn and Resort. You can find them on the east side of Maine Street (Maine State Route 26) in South Poland.
The Bottling Plant's Design
The old bottling plant is a rectangular building. It has a hip roof with wide, decorative eaves. A tall, square tower stands at its southwest corner. This tower has an open top level with columns. The tower is topped with a pyramid-shaped roof made of tiles. The bottom part of the building is made of rough stone. It has arched doorways that lead inside. The windows are also set in round-arch openings. The corners of the building have special brick designs called quoining. The building is shaped like a cross. It has a copper dome in the middle. There is also another entrance with a copper cover.
The Smaller Spring House
The spring house is a smaller building. It is located just south of the bottling plant. Its entrance has columns and flat decorative columns called pilasters. These support a decorative beam above the door.
A Look Back at Poland Spring's History
The Poland Spring resort became very famous for its water in the mid-1800s. People believed the water had special health benefits. In 1876, the grand Poland Spring House was built. This large hotel was made to welcome visitors who came to drink the spring water. Sadly, this original hotel was destroyed by fire about a century later.
The Ricker Family's Vision
The Ricker family ran the Poland Spring resort for many generations. Edward P. Ricker had a great idea in 1903. He wanted to bottle the spring water so more people could enjoy it. He worked with an architect named Harry Wilkerson. Harry was from Poland, Maine, but worked in Washington, DC. Together, they designed the two buildings you see today. The bottling plant and spring house were finished in 1907.
See also
- Keystone Mineral Springs
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Androscoggin County, Maine
Images for kids
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The historic Poland Spring House, built in 1876.
