Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off N side of Elm St., E of jct. with Fair Cir., Topsham, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Grandstand |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000277 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1992 |
The Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand is a really old and important building. It's located at the Topsham Fairgrounds in Topsham, Maine. This grandstand was built a long, long time ago, in the 1860s or 1870s. It's special because it's one of the very few fair grandstands from the 1800s still standing in Maine! Because it's so historic, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
What Does It Look Like?
The Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand is a long, rectangular building. It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. This grandstand is found near the race track at the fairgrounds.
The side of the grandstand that faces the race track is open. It has many rows of seats, like steps, for people to watch the races. These seats are split into 18 sections by strong posts. The other sides of the building, including the back wall, are covered with a special type of wood siding. This siding is called "board-and-batten."
Right in the middle of the grandstand, high up, there's a special booth. This is where the announcer sits to tell everyone what's happening. Underneath the seats at the back, there's a long hallway. This hallway runs all the way along the building.
A Look Back in Time
The grandstand was built sometime between 1863 and 1877. It was probably made bigger a few times over the years. The Topsham Fair itself started in 1855. It was created by a group called the Sagadahoc Agricultural and Horticultural Society. The fair has always been held at these same grounds.
The race track at the fairgrounds was changed between 1863 and 1877. In 1863, people said the track needed to be better. By 1877, pictures of the fairgrounds showed a new track. They also showed a grandstand that looked like it didn't have a roof yet.
By 1914, a postcard showed the grandstand looking just like it does today. There are only two other fair grandstands from the 1800s left in Maine. These are in Fryeburg and Oxford, and they were built in the 1880s. This makes the Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand very unique and important!
