Thomas A. Hill House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Army Memorial Home
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Thomas A. Hill House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 159 Union St., Bangor, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architect | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000105 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1972 |
The Thomas A. Hill House is a special old building in Bangor, Maine. It's also known as the Grand Army Memorial Home. This historic house was built in 1836 by a famous architect named Richard Upjohn.
Today, the Thomas A. Hill House is home to the Bangor Historical Society's collections. It also has a collection about the American Civil War. Over the years, two of Bangor's mayors lived in this house. It officially became a museum in 1944 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Contents
Discovering the Hill House
The Hill House is located in Bangor, at the corner of Union and High Streets. Right across Union Street, you can see another historic building called the Isaac Farrar Mansion. Both houses are made of brick and were designed in the Greek Revival style by Richard Upjohn.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Hill House is a two-and-a-half-story building. It has a roof that slopes down on the sides and four chimneys. The house sits on a strong granite foundation. A porch with a roof goes all the way around the front and side of the house. This porch is held up by fancy columns.
The second floor has unique small, square windows. There are also detailed dormer windows that stick out from the roof. Inside, some changes were made when the house became a museum. These changes helped make it a great place to display history.
A Look at Its History
The Thomas A. Hill House was built for Thomas A. Hill, a well-known businessman in Bangor. It was finished in 1836. However, Mr. Hill faced money problems during a tough time called the Panic of 1837. He had to sell his beautiful home.
Famous People Who Lived Here
The house was then bought by Samuel and Matilda Dale. Samuel Dale was also a successful businessman and served as Bangor's mayor many times. He even hosted President Ulysses S. Grant at the house in 1871!
Another important person who lived here was Allan Gilman, Bangor's very first mayor. Dr. James F. Cox, a doctor, also had his medical office in the house.
Becoming a Museum
In 1944, a group called the local chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War bought the house. They turned it into the Grand Army of the Republic Home. This group helped keep the memory of the Civil War alive.
Later, in 1952, the Sons allowed the Bangor Historical Society to store its collections on the second floor. This led to some changes inside, like moving a circular staircase. The historical society eventually took full ownership of the property in 1974. Today, it continues to share Bangor's rich history with everyone.
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