United States Customhouse and Post Office (Bath, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Customhouse and Post Office
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 25 Front St., Bath, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Ammi B. Young |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Italian Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000064 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1970 |
The U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is a very old building in downtown Bath, Maine. It was built by the United States government in 1858. This building is a great example of a style called Italianate architecture.
For many years, it was home to the local post office. It also held the customs office until 1970. A customs office collects taxes on goods brought into a country. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Today, different businesses use the building.
About the Building
The old U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is located at the end of Front Street. It is also near Lambard and Commercial Streets. The building is made of large, cut granite blocks. It has two stories and a special metal roof. The roof is shaped like a hip, but the top is flat.
The front of the building faces west. It has a part that sticks out in the middle. This part has a low, triangular roof section on top. Small decorative blocks, called modillions, are under the edges of the roof. The corners of the building also have decorative stone blocks.
Windows and Entrance
The windows on the first floor are rectangular. They have small, pointed decorations above them. The windows on the second floor have flat, decorative edges. The main entrance is very fancy. It has three parts and a decorated ledge above it.
Inside, the building has strong iron beams. These beams are held up by stone or iron posts. This design was very modern for its time. It helped make the building safer from fires.
History of the Customhouse
This building was constructed in 1858. It was needed because Bath, Maine, was a very busy port city. A port is a place where ships load and unload goods. Bath was a major center for shipping and building ships.
Who Designed It?
The building was designed by a famous architect named Ammi B. Young. He became the head architect for the U.S. Treasury Department in 1852. The Treasury Department handles the government's money. Young designed many government buildings. Some of his other famous works include the Vermont State House and the Boston Custom House.
The building served as Bath's post office and customhouse until 1970. After that, the General Services Administration decided it was no longer needed by the government. Today, the building is home to various businesses.
