Saco Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saco Historic District
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![]() Emma Hall House is a Queen Anne style residence in the historic district
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Location | Roughly bounded by Elm, North, Beach, and Main Streets., Saco, Maine |
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Area | 103 acres (42 ha) |
Architect | multiple |
Architectural style | Federal, Queen Anne, Italianate |
NRHP reference No. | 98000594 |
Added to NRHP | June 12, 1998 |
The Saco Historic District is a special area in Saco, Maine, that protects many old and important buildings. It covers more than 100 acres in the center of Saco. This district includes homes built from the 1700s to the 1900s. It also has the main business area along Main Street. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. This means it's recognized as a very important place in American history.
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Discovering Saco's Past
Saco is a city in southern Maine. It sits on the east side of the Saco River. The city was first named Pepperellborough in 1762. This name honored Sir William Pepperrell, who owned a lot of land there.
How Saco Grew Over Time
At first, Saco only grew in a small area. This was near what is now called Factory Island in the Saco River. The city didn't start to spread out until the early 1800s. This was because much of the land owned by Pepperrell's family was taken by the state. His family members were Loyalists during the American Revolution. This meant they supported the British king. Their lands were not sold until 1798-1799.
Saco grew a lot in the 1800s. This growth was mostly thanks to two big industries. One was lumber, which came down the Saco River from inland areas. The other was large textile mills. These mills made cloth and were first built on Factory Island in 1826. Both of these industries started to slow down in the 1940s.
Exploring the Historic District's Layout
The Saco Historic District is shaped a bit like a cross. It centers around a five-way intersection. This is where Main, Elm, Beach, and North Streets meet. Main Street is also Maine State Route 9. The main business area is southwest of this meeting point. The area northeast of it becomes more residential, with many homes. The other streets in the district are mostly residential too.
Oldest Homes and Architectural Styles
The oldest building in the district is the Solomon Coit House. It's located at 380 Main Street and was built in 1785. Two other homes from the 1700s are also in the Georgian style. This style was popular before they were built.
The district has many homes from the Federal period. This style was popular after the American Revolution. The Greek Revival style is also well represented. This style became popular after the mills were built. The Emma Hall House, at 342 Main Street, is a great example of a Queen Anne style home.
Special Buildings in the District
Some buildings in the Saco Historic District are so important that they are listed separately. They are also on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Saco City Hall: This building was built in 1855. It's a beautiful brick building that mixes Greek Revival and Italianate styles.
- J.G. Deering House: This is a high-quality Italianate style house. Today, it is home to the local library and a history museum.
- Thacher-Goodale House: Located on North Street, this house was built in 1828. It's the best example in Saco of a Greek Revival house with a temple-front design. This means it has columns like an ancient Greek temple.
There was once a fourth important building, the First Parish Church on Beach Street. It was listed on the National Register. However, it was destroyed by a fire in 2000. It has since been removed from the list.