Woodman Building facts for kids
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Woodman Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 133-141 Middle St., Portland, Maine |
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| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | Harding, George M. |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, French Second Empire |
| Part of | Portland Waterfront (ID74000353) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000075 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
The Woodman Building is a historic and important building found at 133-141 Middle Street in Portland, Maine. It was designed by a well-known architect named George M. Harding. This building was finished in 1867. It is one of the most detailed and stylish commercial buildings built after the terrible Great Fire of Portland in 1866. It is also one of Maine's largest buildings made in the "Second Empire" style. The Woodman Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972.
What is the Woodman Building?
The Woodman Building is located in Portland's Old Port area. This is a historic part of the city. You can find it on the north side of Middle Street, right where it meets Pearl Street. Next to it, on the east side, is the Rackleff Building.
A Look at Its Design
The Woodman Building is a four-story structure. It is made mostly of brick. It also has fancy stone and iron decorations.
- Ground Floor: The shops on the ground floor have iron columns and arches. These give the building a strong look.
- Upper Floors: Windows on the second and third floors are grouped together. They might be in groups of one, two, or three. Each group is topped with detailed stone arches. Stone bands run along the building. They highlight the bottom of these arches. They also connect the window sills.
- Roof: The building has a special roof called a mansard roof. This is a key feature of the Second Empire style. The roof has pairs of decorative brackets. It also has small towers at the corners. Fancy dormer windows stick out from the roof.
Built After a Big Fire
The Woodman family had this building constructed in 1867. This was right after the 1866 fire. That fire destroyed a huge part of Portland. The city needed to rebuild quickly.
The architect, George M. Harding, designed three buildings close to each other. These include the Woodman Building, the Rackleff Building, and the Thompson Block. They are all on Middle Street. Together, they form one of the city's best examples of architecture from that time. The Woodman Building is the most detailed of these three. The ironwork on the ground floor is very special. It was made by a local company called the Portland Company. This makes it a rare surviving example of their work.
