The Common (Union, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Common
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1915 postcard view of the common
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Between Common & Burkett Rds., Union, Maine |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1790 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Town Common |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001151 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 2007 |
The Common is a special public park in Union, Maine. It's like a town square where people can gather. This park was first planned around 1790 and the town bought it in 1809. This makes it the oldest public town common in the entire state of Maine!
The Common is a place for remembering important events. You can find memorials here that honor soldiers and veterans. There is also a bandstand, which is a stage for music performances. Because of its history, The Common was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Contents
What is The Common Like?
The Common is located right in the middle of Union, a small town in Knox County. It is shaped a bit like a diamond and covers about 3 acres (which is about the size of three football fields). Two roads, Burkett Road and Common Road, run along its sides.
Roads and Trees
The park is split into different sections by roads. Town House Road (Maine State Route 235) cuts through the middle. Another smaller road, Abbott Road, also goes through the eastern part.
The western part of The Common is a big open grassy area. It has three rows of maple trees that provide shade. These maple trees replaced older elm trees that were planted a long time ago in the 1800s.
Important Memorials
As you face Town House Road, you will see a tall granite memorial. This memorial is 18 feet (about 5.5 meters) tall. It was put there in 1888 by a group called the Grand Army of the Republic. This group was made up of soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. The memorial honors their service.
In the southeast corner of this section, there is a small cement watering trough. This was used to give water to animals in the past. There is also a wooden map from the 1940s that shows the area.
Bandstand and Other Features
The western part of the eastern section of The Common is mostly open. It has maple trees around its edges. In the southern half of this area, you'll find an octagonal (eight-sided) bandstand. This bandstand was built in 1895 and has a special style called Queen Anne. It's a great spot for concerts and events.
The central part of the eastern section has more memorials. One memorial honors those who served in World War II. Another memorial remembers veterans who served during peacetime. The very easternmost part of The Common is a small, triangular piece of land without many decorations.
The Common's Long History
The town of Union was first settled in the 1770s. It officially became a town in 1786. The first time a "common" was mentioned in town papers was in 1790. We are not completely sure if this was the exact same land as today's Common.
However, it seems the land that is now The Common was planned out by 1801. The town bought it from a person named David Gillmor in 1809. They paid $100 for it, which was a lot of money back then!
The Common in Union is very special for a few reasons. It is the oldest known town common in Maine that was bought specifically to be a common. It also still looks very much like it did a long time ago, even with the roads that cut through it. This makes it a unique and important historical site.
