Turner Town House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Turner Town House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | SR 117, Turner, Maine |
|---|---|
| Built | 1831 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000129 |
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 1979 |
The Turner Town House is a very old building in Turner, Maine. It was built in 1831 and served as the town's meeting place, also known as a town hall. It's one of the oldest buildings of its kind in the entire state of Maine! Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list helps protect special places in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Turner Town House Look Like?
The Turner Town House is in a part of Turner called Turner Center. You can find it on the north side of Route 117, near the First Universalist Church. It sits a little bit back from the road, close to the Nezinscot River.
Building Features
It's a small building made of wood, with one story and a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard. The main front of the building faces south. It has five sections, with three windows and two doors. Each window has a large shutter on its left side.
Inside the Town House
Inside, there's one big room. What's really cool and unique about this room is its floor! The floor slopes down from the front and back towards the middle. This was so that town officials could sit in the center during meetings. People believe this special floor design is found only in this town house in Maine.
A Moving History: How the Town House Found Its Home
The town of Turner was officially started in 1787. For many years, town meetings were held in local churches or schools. But by the 1820s, people wanted a special building just for town meetings.
Choosing a Location
From 1822 to 1830, there were many arguments about where to build the new town hall. The town was growing, but some parts were growing faster than others. People couldn't agree on the best spot for the building.
The Traveling Town House
Finally, the town house was built in 1830 in a central location. But here's the surprising part: different groups in town secretly took the building apart and moved it! This happened three times! Imagine a building being moved so many times. Eventually, it was put back together and stayed in its current spot.
