Winterport Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Winterport Historic District
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Irregular pattern along Main, Elm, Cushing, Lebanon, Commercial, Dean, and Water Sts., Winterport, Maine |
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| Area | 170 acres (69 ha) |
| Architect | Ryder, Calvin; Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000112 |
| Added to NRHP | October 3, 1975 |
The Winterport Historic District is a special area in the center of Winterport, Maine. This town grew a lot in the mid-1800s. It was important because it was the main port for Bangor during winter.
The district has many buildings built in the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Contents
Where is Winterport Historic District?
Winterport is in northeastern Waldo County. It sits on the west side of the Penobscot River. The main village area is in the southeastern part of town, right by the river.
Bangor is about 13 miles (21 km) north of Winterport. The river near Bangor would freeze in winter. But the river at Winterport always stayed clear of ice. This made Winterport a very important place.
Why was Winterport important?
Winterport used to be part of a town called Frankfort until 1860. As Bangor's lumber business grew, Winterport also became bigger. It was the main place to get supplies and ship goods during the winter months.
However, a big economic problem called the Panic of 1857 happened. This event greatly slowed down Winterport's growth. Because of this, many buildings in the village were built in the years just before this time.
What can you see in the district?
The historic district mainly runs along Main Street. This street is also known as United States Route 1A. It stretches from Holmes Street in the south to Cove Brook in the north.
You can also find historic buildings on roads leading to the river. There are also some on Lebanon and Elm Streets. These are major roads that go into the town.
The district covers about 170 acres (69 hectares). It includes 150 main buildings. Many of these are homes built between the 1830s and 1850s. They are often in the Greek Revival style.
Notable buildings and architecture
Some important buildings in the district are not homes. For example, Winterport's Town Hall is built in the Italianate style. There are also four churches from the 1800s.
One of these is the Winterport Congregational Church. Its design is thought to be by Calvin Ryder. He was a well-known architect in the region.
Images for kids
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A church building in the Winterport Historic District.
