United States Marine Hospital (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marine Hospital
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 331 Veranda St. Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | Ammi B. Young |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000161 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1974 |
The Marine Hospital is a really old and important building in Portland, Maine. It's located on Martin's Point at 331 Veranda Road. This building was finished in the late 1850s. It was designed by a famous architect named Ammi B. Young. What makes it special is that it's the only old Marine Hospital left from that time that still has its original iron railings. Today, it's part of the Martin's Point Health Care center in Portland. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
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About the Marine Hospital Building
The old Marine Hospital building sits on top of a hill. This hill is on Martin's Point in eastern Portland. Martin's Point is a piece of land that sticks out into the water. It's where the Presumpscot River meets Casco Bay. A newer, larger building for Martin's Point Health Care is located nearby.
Building Design and Features
The Marine Hospital is a three-story building. It is made with strong brick walls and decorated with granite. It has a shape that looks a bit like the letter "H". The corners of the building have special granite blocks called quoins. The roof has a fancy edge called a cornice. This cornice has many decorative brackets.
The windows are usually sash windows. These are windows that slide up and down. They are set in rectangular openings. Each window has granite pieces above and below it. The front of the building, facing southwest, has nine sections. The middle five sections have balconies. These balconies have cast iron railings. These railings are the original ones from when the building was built. The porches on top have a roof section that matches the fancy cornice.
History of the Marine Hospital
This hospital was built by the United States government. Construction took place between 1855 and 1859. It was part of the Marine Hospital Service. This service provided medical care. It helped sailors who were sick or hurt.
The Architect and His Work
The building was designed by Ammi B. Young. At that time, he was the main architect for the United States Treasury Department. Mr. Young designed many government buildings. He also designed several other marine hospitals. This Portland building is the only one of his marine hospitals that still has its original ironwork. This ironwork was a special part of his designs.
How the Hospital Served Sailors
The Marine Hospital Service started in 1798. Portland was a very busy port city. So, a service was active there by 1805. This hospital was built where the Veranda Hotel used to be. That hotel burned down in 1847. The building worked as a hospital until 1952.
After that, in 1956, it became a training center. It was used by the Marine Corps Reserve. Before it became part of Martin's Point Health Care, it was also a clinic. This clinic was run by the United States Public Health Service.
See also
