Walter P. Mansur House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Walter P. Mansur House
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Photo, 1895
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10 Water St., Houlton, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002342 |
| Added to NRHP | February 9, 1990 |
The Walter P. Mansur House is a historic building found at 10 Water Street in Houlton, Maine. This house was built in 1880. It is known as the most detailed and fancy Second Empire style building in northern Maine. The house was built for Walter P. Mansur, who was a very important local businessman and banker. Because of its special design and history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 1990.
Contents
Explore the Mansur House Design
The Mansur House sits on the west side of Water Street. It is just north of Houlton's main business area, called Market Square. This house is a large, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a main rectangular part and a smaller back section. This back part connects the house to a carriage house, which was used for horses and carriages long ago.
What Makes Its Style Special?
The front of the house has three main sections. The section on the left sticks out a bit. The sections on the right are covered by a porch. This porch has round columns that hold up its roof. The corners of the left section have decorative blocks, which are called "quoins." The far right corner of the house also has these blocks.
The left section of the house has two stories of bay windows. These windows are shaped like polygons and go all the way up to the roof. The roof itself is a special type called a mansard roof. The first-floor bay window has a fancy decorated edge called a "bracketed cornice." This is a more detailed version of the edges found above other windows on the first floor.
All along the roof line, you can see many double brackets. These are decorative supports that stick out. The part of the house that sticks out on the left has a pyramid-shaped roof on top of the mansard roof. The entire main part of the house is covered with smooth, flat wooden boards.
The Story of Walter P. Mansur
The Mansur House was built in 1880 for Walter P. Mansur. He was a very important person in Houlton. In 1881, he became the president of the First National Bank of Houlton. He also led the local water company, which provided water to the town.
A House with Many Lives
Walter P. Mansur lived in this house until he passed away in 1900. His wife then sold the property in 1911. It was bought by the Roman Catholic church of St. Mary's parish.
When the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, it was being used by the church as a school and a convent. A convent is a place where nuns live. As of 2015, the building is now home to the Bowers Funeral Home. This shows how one special house can have many different uses over time!
