Skowhegan Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Skowhegan Historic District
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1906 postcard view of Water Street
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Madison Ave., Water and Commercial Sts., Showhegan, Maine |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000781 |
| Added to NRHP | February 19, 1982 |
The Skowhegan Historic District is a special area in Skowhegan, Maine. It protects many old buildings from the late 1800s. This district is found on Madison Avenue and Water Street. These streets are on the north side of the Kennebec River.
The district includes 37 important buildings. They were built between 1850 and 1910. One famous building is the Skowhegan Town Hall. It was designed by a well-known architect named John Calvin Stevens. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This list helps protect important historical places.
Contents
Exploring Skowhegan's Past
How Skowhegan Grew
The town of Skowhegan, Maine was first settled in 1771. It was called Canaan when it became a town in 1788. Later, in 1836, its name changed to Skowhegan. This new name came from the beautiful falls on the Kennebec River.
In 1861, Skowhegan grew even bigger. It joined with the nearby town of Bloomfield. Bloomfield was located on the south side of the river. For many years, most of the town's business happened in the Bloomfield area.
The Rise of Water Street
By the 1840s, things began to change. Water Street became the main business center. This street runs along the river, north and east of Skowhegan Island. In 1872, Skowhegan became the county seat for Somerset County. Being the county seat meant it was the main town for government. This helped the town grow even more.
Old Buildings and Their Stories
The oldest building still standing in the district is the Patten Block. It might have been built as early as 1836. This building has an interesting past. For a long time, it had a restaurant. This restaurant also had a secret area. It was used during a time when selling alcohol was against the law. This period was known as Prohibition.
Different Building Styles
The buildings in the district show many different styles. Some are simple commercial buildings. An example is the Fogg Building from around 1895. It is a two-story wooden building. Other buildings are more fancy. The August Trust Bank building has an Art Deco style. The Depositors Trust building has a Beaux Arts style. It was designed by Penn Varney and built in 1909.
The Town Hall and Opera House
The most impressive building is the Town Hall and Opera House. It was designed by John Calvin Stevens. He was a famous architect from Portland. This building was built in 1909. It has a Colonial Revival style. It is also special because of Margaret Chase Smith. She later became a United States Senator. She worked for the town in 1916.
