West Market Square Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Market Square Historic District
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West Market Square
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | W. Market Sq., Bangor, Maine |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Architect | Newman, Frank E.; Deane, Benjamin S. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Neo-Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000161 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1979 |
The West Market Square Historic District is a special area in Bangor, Maine. It's a historic part of the city where many businesses have been located for a long time. This district is found where Main and Broad Streets meet. Since Bangor became a city in 1834, this spot has been super important for its economy and trade.
The district includes seven buildings that show what the area looked like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Because of its history and unique buildings, the West Market Square Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's recognized as an important place in American history.
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Exploring West Market Square's Past
When Bangor officially became a city in 1834, the area where Main and Broad Streets meet was already called "Market Square." It was a busy place where people bought and sold goods outdoors. Later, it became known as West Market Square. This helped people tell it apart from East Market Square, which was across Kenduskeag Stream. East Market Square developed later, near Central, Harlow, and Park Streets.
West Market Square was a main hub for business in Bangor for many years. It stayed important for trade and shopping well into the 1900s.
Buildings of West Market Square
The historic district includes seven important buildings. Six of these buildings line the east side of the square. They were built between about 1834 and 1870. The seventh building, the Merrill Trust Company building, is at 2 Hammond Street. It's just a little bit northeast of the square.
Merrill Trust Company Building
The Merrill Trust Company building is a great example of Classical Revival style. This style uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It was designed by a New York architect named Frank E. Newman. The building was finished in 1907.
Older Buildings Around the Square
The six buildings that line the square itself are all older. They were built before 1870. These buildings show off different Victorian architectural styles. Victorian architecture was popular during the time Queen Victoria ruled England.
Three of these buildings are in the Second Empire style. This style often features mansard roofs and decorative details. One of these is the Wheelwright Block. It's a very important building that stands at the north end of the square. It's so special that it's listed on its own!
All these buildings are made of brick. They have stone and wood decorations. Most of them are four stories tall. However, the Wheelwright Block is even taller, with five stories.
The oldest building in the district is the E.P. Baldwin Building. You can find it at 10-12 Broad Street. It was built sometime before 1843. This building is in the Greek Revival style, which was popular in the early to mid-1800s. It often features columns and simple, grand designs.
