Rumford Falls Power Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rumford Falls Power Company Building
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 59 Congress St., Rumford, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Henry J. Hardenbergh |
| Architectural style | architecture, Beax Arts Classicism |
| MPS | Rumford Commercial MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000243 |
| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1980 |
The Rumford Falls Power Company Building is an old and important building located at 59 Congress Street in Rumford, Maine. It's a two-story building designed in a style called Beaux Arts. A famous architect from New York City, Henry J. Hardenbergh, designed it. It was built in 1906 for the Rumford Falls Power Company. This company was very important for Rumford's growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
Building a Town: Rumford's Story
The Rumford Falls Power Company was started in 1882. A smart businessman named Hugh J. Chisholm created it. He saw how powerful the Rumford Falls on the Androscoggin River could be.
The company did many big things:
- They built a dam on the river to create power.
- They laid down railroad tracks to connect the area.
- They built a whole town. This town was focused on making paper products.
Who Designed This Building?
The Rumford Falls Power Company hired architect Henry J. Hardenbergh to design their offices. He was a very well-known architect. He designed some famous buildings, like the first Waldorf Astoria New York hotel. He also designed Boston's historic Copley Plaza Hotel.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building Hardenbergh designed is made of brick and concrete. It has two stories and stands on a corner. The two sides that face the streets look almost the same.
Key Design Features
The building's design has several interesting parts:
- It has three main sections. These sections are separated by parts that stick out, called piers.
- On the first floor, these piers have stripes of yellow brick and concrete.
- Above the first floor, there's a concrete band. It has a decorative shield panel.
- On the second floor, the piers have a cool cornstalk design.
Windows and Entrances
- The two outer sections on each side are smaller. They have arched doorways.
- These outer doorways now have glass doors.
- The corner entrance is set back and can be reached from either arch.
- The middle section on the first floor has many large plate glass windows. A metal cornice (a decorative ledge) sits above them.
- On the second floor, the middle section has seven windows. These are separated by brick piers with concrete medallions (round decorations).
- The outer sections on the upper level have pairs of windows. These are separated by thin columns.
The Top of the Building
A concrete band separates the second-floor windows from a brick entablature. This is a fancy part that supports the roof. It has a simple dentillated cornice, which means it has small tooth-like blocks. The building used to have a wider cornice with urns on top, but this part has been removed.
