Somerset County Courthouse (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Somerset County Courthouse
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Court St., Skowhegan, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Charles F. Douglas; John Calvin Stevens |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000332 |
| Added to NRHP | November 8, 1984 |
The Somerset County Courthouse is a special old building in downtown Skowhegan, Maine. It's where the local government for Somerset County does its work.
This brick building was first built in 1873. A local architect named Charles F. Douglas designed it. Later, in 1904, another architect, John Calvin Stevens, added more to it. A second addition was built in 1938. The courthouse is still used today for county business. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 because of its history.
Contents
What Does the Courthouse Look Like?
The courthouse is on the corner of Court and High Streets. It's just north of the main part of Skowhegan. A newer court building is across High Street.
The Original 1873 Building
The oldest part of the courthouse faces Court Street. It is a three-story building made of brick with stone decorations. The roof is a special shape called a "truncated hip roof." It used to have a small tower, called a cupola, but that was taken off in 1904.
The front and sides have parts that stick out a little. These sections have brick pillars on the corners. The front section has a pointed roof at the top. A small porch with a gable roof covers the main entrance. It is held up by strong granite posts. The windows on the top two floors are tall and have rounded tops.
Later Additions to the Building
Behind the main part is an addition built in 1938. This part is two stories tall. Its entrance on the north side looks similar to the main entrance. The windows on the second floor also have rounded tops. Brick pillars and decorative brickwork under the roof are also found on this newer section, matching the older part.
Why Was the Courthouse Built in Skowhegan?
Somerset County was created in 1809. At first, the county's main town, or "county seat," was Norridgewock. This is where the county government was located.
Moving the County Seat
In 1872, the county decided to move its main offices to Skowhegan. This was allowed if Skowhegan could quickly provide enough space for the county's work. The county leaders thought the temporary space Skowhegan offered was not good enough. This led to a disagreement between the towns.
A Generous Gift for the Town
The problem was solved by a very rich man named Abner Coburn. He used to be the Governor of Maine. He was born in Skowhegan and offered to pay for a new courthouse to be built in his hometown.
The first part of the main building was designed by local architect Charles F. Douglas. It was finished in 1873. In 1904, a famous architect from Portland, John Calvin Stevens, helped make the building bigger and better. He added two sections to the back that matched Douglas's design. He also completely changed the inside of the building. The courthouse was made even bigger again in 1938.
