Wales and Hamblen Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wales and Hamblen Store
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 Location in Maine
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| Location | 260 Main St., Bridgton, Maine |
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| Built | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000924 |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1990 |
The Wales and Hamblen Building is a special old building located at 260 Main Street in Bridgton, Maine. It was built a long time ago, in 1882. This building is a great example of a style called Italianate architecture. It's considered one of the most fancy and well-designed commercial buildings in Bridgton. Because it's so important, it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a historic treasure.
What Makes the Wales and Hamblen Building Special?
This building is famous for its beautiful design. It shows off the Italianate style, which was popular in the late 1800s. This style often includes decorative brackets, tall windows, and fancy details. The Wales and Hamblen Building has many of these features. It stands out as a unique part of Bridgton's history and architecture.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Wales and Hamblen Building is on the north side of Main Street in the center of Bridgton. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and smooth wooden siding. The front of the roof has a special design called a "pent gable." This part has decorative panels and brackets. You can see these fancy details under the roof's edge too. The corners of the front of the building have flat, column-like decorations.
On the first floor, there are five sections. These include three large display windows. There are also two entrances, one for the building and one for the store. Above these, a narrow roof band holds a sign. This sign reads "Wales & Hamblen Building." The second floor has three pairs of narrow windows. These windows have rounded tops and decorative frames. Below them are flat panels. The very top of the building, in the gable, has a beautiful three-part arched window.
The Building's Story
The Wales and Hamblen Building was built in 1882. It was constructed after a fire destroyed the previous building on this spot. For many years, it housed a hardware store. First, it was called Fowler and Wales. Later, it became Wales and Hamblen.
The upper floor of the building had a large meeting hall. This space was originally used by a local group called the International Order of Odd Fellows. They used it for their meetings until 1962. A back part of the building, called a "rear ell," was used as a tin shop for a long time. In the late 1980s, the front of the building was carefully restored. This helped bring back its original beauty.
