Full Text
HISTORIC LEWISTON: A self-guided tour of our history, architecture and culture Prepared by The Historic Preservation Review Board City of Lewiston, Maine August 2001 Sources include National Register nomination forms, Mill System District survey work by Christopher W. Closs, Downtown Development District Preservation Plan by Russell Wright, and surveys by Lewiston Historic Commission, as well as original research. This publication has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. The Maine Historic Preservation Commission receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or handicap in its federally assisted program. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240. ---PAGE BREAK--- Lewiston Mill System District A. Lewiston Bleachery and Dye Works (Pepperell Associates): c. 1876. Built by the Franklin Company to provide finishing operations for associated Lewiston mills; now contains 18 buildings. Pepperell Associates assumed ownership in the 1920's and added the sheet factory on Willow Street in 1929. (550-690 Lisbon St.) B. Androscoggin Mills (Arkwright Co.): c. 1861, 1867, 1872. Mill #1 built in less than one year by Captain A. H. Kelsey to manufacture cotton goods. (19-27 Locust St.) C. Androscoggin Mill Duplex Houses: c. 1871 . Three Italianate duplex houses built for managers of the Androscoggin Mill. Two have been altered considerably and continue to be used for housing. The third, 269-271, is in the first stage of restoration. (257-271 Park St.) D. Cumberland Mill: c. 1868. The main mill was a three-story Greek revival type, woolen cloth manufacturer, warehousing of new material and finished goods. (354-368 Lincoln St.) E. Lewiston Gas Light Co.: c. 1853. Complex to produce, cleanse, and pipe coal gas throughout Lewiston for street lighting and cooking. Only the 1908 Meter House (Greek Revival style) remains. Now owned by Northeast Utilities, Inc. (310-330 Lincoln St.) F. Avon Manufacturing Company (Avon Mill): c. 1862. A rectangular Engaged Pilaster Style, for weaving, cloth finishing, bleaching and packing. (304-308 Lincoln St.) G. “Gas Patch.” Densely placed single-family homes built on Franklin Company land by Irish immigrants in then unpleasant proximity to gas works (see # H. “Little Canada.” To accommodate rapid immigration from Canada, rows of wood-framed tenements constructed on Franklin Co. land along curved, narrow streets and alleys, created an old world atmosphere. Some charm gone with loss of several buildings since 1956. I. St. Mary’s Church: 1908-28 A Norman gothic-style church of Maine granite designed by Boston architects O’Connell and Shaw. An architectural jewel, it served the fast-growing population of “Little Canada.” Now Franco-American Heritage Center with a museum and performing arts center. (46 Cedar St.) J. Continental Mills (Porter Mill): c. 1855-1858. Mill #1 designed by A.D. Lockwood, D. Whitman and C. F. Douglas for the Franklin Company. Second Empire Style. The #2 Mill with unique tower (now demolished) and mansard roofs covering mills 1&2 were added in 1872. (2-44 Cedar St.) K. Continental Mill Blocks: c. 1866. Designed and built by Amos Lockwood and Albert Kelsey in a transitional Greek Revival-Italianate style. The two four-story brick structures are all that remain of a number of mill blocks used by the mill as housing for its workers. (66-82 Oxford St.) L. Lewiston Mill: c. 1860. Mill #1 (Gate House) architect A.D. Lockwood. Gothic Revival Style, built for the Lewiston Bagging Company, manufacturer of seamless cotton bags. The #2 Mill, also designed by A. D. Lockwood, was used for making bags made of jute. (1-47 Beech St.) M. Dominican Block: c. 1882. Designed by George Coombs in a Queen Anne Style for the Dominican Fathers for their first parish school of 650 students. The five-story brick and granite structure also became a social and political center for the French-Canadian community. (141-145 Lincoln St.) ---PAGE BREAK--- N. F. X. Marcotte Furniture Store: c. 1901. Four-story brick building. Marcotte (See # 100) prospered by serving new immigrants. Present building originally housed three businesses (furniture, pharmacy and music), plus several apartments. Exclusively a furniture store for the past fifty years and the oldest in the State. (132 Lincoln St.) O. Grand Trunk Railroad Station: c. 1885. Known as “The Depot” for Lewiston & Auburn Railroad, this rectangular brick structure was Lewiston’s link to the Canadian National Railway system. Thousands of French-Canadian immigrants passed through this city’s “Ellis Island.” (103 Lincoln St.) P. Railroad Park: 1874. Last train arrived in 1956; all that remain are trestle, turntable and depot (see # Now an 8- acre recreation area with bicycle and pedestrian paths and space for events like Balloon Festival and Festival de Joie. Q. Davis Block: c. 1911. Home of wholesale grocery businesses, including Freeman G. Davis Co. and then Milliken-Tomlinson Co. (13-17 Lincoln St.) R. Cowan Mill (Aurora Mill): c. 1850. 4Ω-story brick, Greek Revival Style building, built on the site of Lewiston’s first cotton mill (John A. Briggs, 1836) which burned in March 1850. David Cowan was mayor twice. (21 Mill St.) S. W. S. Libbey Mill (Lincoln Mill): c. 1846. #1 Mill, brick 5-story, Greek Revival Style, produced cotton, woolen, and rubber coated fabrics over the years. Two major fires destroyed most of the original building. The #1 Mill is the only remaining structure. (21 Mill St.) T. Lewiston Water Works Gate House: c. 1878. Architects Stevens & Coombs. A small Italianate structure with gates to direct flow of water pumped from river for the city’s water supply until 1899. U. Union Water Company Gate House: c. 1851. Architect David Whitman. Built for the Lewiston Water Power Company to control the flow of the Androscoggin River through 2Ω miles of canals to many mills for water power and later electrical generators. (150 Main St.) V. Lewiston Machine Company: c. 1853. Architect David Whitman, Greek Revival Style, for the Lewiston Water Power Company. Served as a foundry to supply castings and machine parts to the cotton industry. Later converted to a woolen mill (Avon Mfg. Co., 1906). (2-22 W. Bates St.) W. Maine Central Railroad Station: c. 1917. Classical Renaissance successor to 1856 & 1891 stations. Last passen- ger train 1960. Now Steel Service Center. (End of Bates St.) X. Knapp Shoe Building: 1912. Constructed as the Bates Street Shirt Co., then became Knapp Shoe factory, and now newly renovated for medical offices. (29 Lowell St.) Y. Bates Mill: c. 1850-52. Mill #1 designed by David Whitman. Primarily a cotton mill, it later became famous for its bedspreads. #5 Weave Shed with saw-tooth roof, designed by architect Albert Kahn, completed in 1914. (65-117 Canal St.) Z. Hill Manufacturing Company: c. 1854. Mill #1 designed by architect David Whitman; note distinctive dormers. Produced sheeting, sheet cloth and other cotton goods. Bates Manufacturing assumed operation at a later date. (41-59 Chestnut St.) ---PAGE BREAK--- HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND SITES This is a selected list of Lewiston’s buildings and sites that have historic and architectural significance. Many others remain to be researched. Omission from this brochure does not indicate that all other buildings and sites lack significance. indicates buildings on the National Register of Historic Places 1. Empire Theater: 1903. Opened as a vaudeville theater, soon featured leading musical stars, plays and first-run movies. Had own concert orchestra. Main floor and two balconies contained 1500 seats. Theater closed 1982. (142 Main St.) 2. Haymarket-Union-Hulett Square. During nineteenth century, this wide part of Main Street was rimmed by hay and feed stores. Included G. B. Haskell Implement Co. and hay and grain store of Jacob Barker Ham, Lewiston’s first mayor. 3. Peck Building: 1899. Known as “The Great Department Store,” it was the first and largest department store in Maine. Hints of original ornate facade show around the top-floor windows. Now an L. L. Bean calling center. (184 Main St.) 4. First National Bank Building: 1871, 1903. Home of successors to the Lewiston Falls Bank established in 1852, significant in the city’s industrial growth. Moved into this building in 1871; in 1903 Coombs and Gibbs designed the red brick and granite facade in the neoclassical style. (157- 163 Main St.) 5. Central Block: c. 1857. Construction of this block influenced development along Lisbon Street. City offices here until construction of a city hall in 1871. 1200-seat auditorium and several shops and offices. Part burned in 1870; replaced by bank building on Main St. (See (2-4 Lisbon St.) 6. The Gateway Building (Masonic Building): 1902. Designed by George Coombs with Italianate features, it housed the Masons and Androscoggin Savings Bank. Interior burned in 1977; rebuilt with offices and apartments, with a fifth floor and mansard roof added. (5-11 Lisbon St.) 7. Union Block: c. 1880. Clothier John Y. Scruton built this Italianate commercial building nine bays wide and rented the third floor hall to the Knights of the Odd Fellows, and the Kora Temple. (21-29 Lisbon St.) 8. Grants Clothing: 1900. The granite front designed by Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkerson reflects its history as home of the Lewiston Trust Company. Grants Clothing occupied the building, 1926-1985. (46 Lisbon St.) 9. Lyceum Hall: 1872. Architect Charles F. Douglas. Note the granite-trimmed windows on the second and third floors, as well as the windows in the mansard roof. This housed the city’s only theater for a number of years. (49 Lisbon St.) 10. Depositors Trust Company Building: 1921. Architects Coombs and Gibbs. Strong classical style. (55 Lisbon St.) 11. Music Hall Building (Frye Block): 1877. Constructed as “the best opera house east of Boston,” with a substantial contribution by Senator William P. Frye (See # 64). ---PAGE BREAK--- Entertainment included opera, drama, minstrels, vaudeville, and animal acts. Now being renovated for the Lewiston District Court. (71-87 Lisbon St.) 12. Lamey Wellehan Store: 1936. A Coombs and Harriman design in Art Deco style with black glass exterior and angular aluminum trim. (110 Lisbon St.) 13. A. Singer Building: 1922. Named for Abraham Singer, Jewish immigrant from Poland and one of largest real estate owners in Lewiston. Occupied by M. Supovitz, a tailor, and by eating places. (112-114 Lisbon St.) 14. Osgood Building: 1892. Architect J. L. Coburn & Son. The white enamel brick front brought from Leeds, England, is unique in the State of Maine. (129 Lisbon St.) 15. Sands Building, c. 1886. Note balcony and peak. Built by Arthur Sands, leading dry goods merchant. (130 Lisbon St.) 16. First McGillicuddy Block: 1895. Architect Jefferson Lake Coburn. Unusual copper turret and brick and metal ornamentation. Constructed by Irish immigrant John McGillicuddy, contractor and grocer. (133 Lisbon St.) 17. Manufacturer’s National Bank Building (Professional Building): c. 1914. Lewiston’s last large commercial building constructed before World War I and the tallest before 1950. It now houses offices. Neo-classical design with yellow brick and limestone trim. (145 Lisbon St.) 18. Old Kora Temple: c. 1895. Original home of Kora Temple (See # 72). Also first YMCA, city’s first telephone office, and a motion picture theater. Owned by Boston Red Sox baseball player and manager, Bill Carrigan, from 1912 until his death in the 1960's. (159-165 Lisbon St.) 19. Second McGillicuddy Block: c. 1901. Another structure by John McGillicuddy (See # 16). Housed Bliss Business College for many years. (160 Lisbon St.) 20. D. B. Cressey Building: 1895. Built by David Cressey. Housed various retail businesses and offices. Club room for the Eagles Social Club (See # 58). (167-169 Lisbon Street) 21. Greely Block: c. 1895. Held various businesses and offices. Built by contractor Cyrus Greely, member of city council and commission to construct City Hall. (171 Lisbon St.) 22. Montgomery Ward Building: c. 1933. Built by Lucy M. Turrell and leased to Montgomery Ward. Now office space and known as Centreville Plaza. (179 Lisbon Street) 23. Ellard Building: 1897. Note shamrocks. Built by Irish immigrant George W. Ellard, retail shoe dealer. (180 Lisbon St.) 24. Odd Fellows Block: 1876. Victorian commercial architecture. Note the brick and granite trimmings about the windows. Occupied by several fraternal organizations, as well as the WCTU. (182-190 Lisbon St.) 25. Garcelon Building: 1876. Yellow brick. Built by Olivia D. Garcelon, owner of fashionable dress shops and real estate speculator in Lewiston and Boston. (192-194 Lisbon St.) 26. Marcotte Furniture (Scruton Block): c. 1883. Home to famous Bradford, Conant & Company furniture store until Depression. Thereafter, owned and occupied by Atherton and Marcotte furniture stores. (199 Lisbon Street) 27. Pilsbury Block: 1870 and 1873. Rare example of a transitional Italianate Romanesque Revival style. Developed in two stages by George Pilsbury, mayor, 1867. Initially housed People’s Savings Bank and Manufacturers National. Now part of Lewiston Public Library. (200-210 Lisbon St.) ---PAGE BREAK--- 28. Monroe Building (Savings Bank Block): 1868-1870. Mixture of architectural styles: Italianate arches at the side on second floor, Romanesque arches on third floor, and Gothic style pointed windows in mansard roof. The G.A.R. Hall on the fourth floor was home to the Civil War veterans known as the Grand Army of the Republic. Maine State Grange’s first convention here, 1874. (213-221 Lisbon St.) 29. Atkinson Building:1893. Designed by Elmer I. Thomas of Auburn. At the time it was the tallest commercial block in Maine, and one of the state’s first Romanesque Revival "flatirons." Occupied by the Atkinson Home Furnishing Co. and later by Atherton Furniture. (220 Lisbon St.) 30. Le Messager Building: 1901. Headquarters of French- language newspaper published 1880-1968. Source of information on activities in the French community, it urged Francos to become active in city’s politics. (223 Lisbon St.) 31. Pottle Building: 1890. Built by Cyrus Greeley for George Pottle, Lewiston mayor and 18-year member of state Board of Assessors. (230-234 Lisbon St.) 32. Lisbon/College Block: c. 1855-56. Erected by Franklin Company. Earliest surviving commercial building on Lisbon Street. Re-named when Benjamin Bates gave his share of the building to the college. Town meetings were held here. Served as a provisional City Hall. It later became a social center for Canadian immigrants. (252-272 Lisbon St.) 33. First Callahan Building: 1892; Second Callahan Building, 1910-11. Two large Renaissance-style buildings reflect the success of brothers T.F. and Eugene Callahan, dealers in trunks, hats, men’s clothing. (276, 282 Lisbon St.) 34. The Lewiston Historic Commercial District. A block of buildings between Chestnut and Cedar Streets that represent Lewiston’s commercial development 1850-1914. The buildings represent a variety of sizes, building materials and styles. While most other structures along Lisbon Street have been modified, most remaining buildings on this block retain much of their architectural integrity. (275-371 Lisbon St.) 35. Lord Block: 1865. Greek Revival Style. Oldest unaltered commercial structure on Lisbon Street. (379 Lisbon St.) 36. Palange Building: c. 1908. Vincenzo Palange, an Italian immigrant, built a successful fruit retail business here. (385 Lisbon St.) 37. S.B.S. Lithuanian Hall: 1914. The St. Bartholomew Society constructed this meeting place as a Lithuanian cultural and social center. (387-389 Lisbon) 38. Maine Supply Company Building: 1911. Designed by prominent architect William R. Miller, this was the earliest known automobile garage in Maine. (415-417 Lisbon St.) 39. Ritz Theater: c.1937. Erected and owned by Le Montagnard Social Club. Leased to Ritz Theater until the late 1950's, a typical neighborhood theater. Now the home of The Public Theater, an upscale live theater run by an award-winning equity company. (29-31 Maple Street) 40. Centreville Commons Multi-Family Housing: 1880- 1912. Knox Street blocks from Spruce to Birch Streets. Originally built for occupancy by mill workers, several four- story wood apartment houses remain. 41. Trinity Episcopal Church: c. 1882. Land given by the Franklin Company in 1876. C. C. Haight designed it in the “Cruciform” style of rural English churches. (247 Bates St.) 42. Coburn School: c.1881. Josiah Coburn was agent of The Hill Co. (See # a former member of the City Council, and ---PAGE BREAK--- twenty years a member of the School Board. Site of first kindergarten class in Lewiston in the early 1900’s; now houses part of Head Start Program. (255 Bates St.) 43. Dominican Convent Building: c. 1909. Originally 8-foot walls surrounded it for the privacy of the Catholic nuns. Its present use is housing for the elderly. (56 Birch St.) 44. Drouin Building: c. 1922. St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Catholic parochial school constructed of yellow brick in the Gothic Revival style. Later St. Dominic’s High School. Named for Father Francois M. Drouin. (250 Bates St.) 45. St. Patrick’s Church: c.1890. This Catholic church was built by Rev. Thomas Wallace (See # 47 & 89) who is buried in an adjoining chapel. Designed by James Murphy of Providence, R.I., in the Gothic style. Features a 6,000-pound bell (1891) and thirteen stained-glass windows, made by Mayar of Munich, Germany, installed 1927. (220 Bates St.) 46. Albert Kelsey House: 1870. Residence of agent, planner, and architect for Franklin Co. This Italianate style building now Rectory for St. Patrick’s Church. (1 Walnut St.) 47. Wallace Parochial School: c. 1908. From personal income, Rev. Wallace (See # 45 & 89) built, financed, and named this school after his parents. Recently served as part of St. Dominic’s High School. (208 Bates St.) 48. Dr. Louis J. Martel House: c. 1883. Designed by Stevens and Coombs. The only single-family brick house constructed in the 19th century in any of Lewiston’s French neighborhoods. Dr. Martel was a leader of the Franco- American community. (122-124 Bartlett St.) 49. Dr. Milton Wedgewood House: c. 1873. Charles F. Douglas of Lewiston was the architect. It retains the essential components of its asymmetrical floor plan and mansard roof. Exterior altered in 1955. (101 Pine St.) 50. Dr. Edward Russell House: c. 1860. Italianate style. Dr. Russell was a legislator, mayor of Lewiston, and physician, who in 1890 performed the first appendectomy in Maine here. Later owned by the Y.W.C.A. and housed young women. Now office space. (73 Pine St.) 51. H. C. Little House: c. 1858. Modified Italianate style with elaborate porch added later. Little built Lyceum Block (See # Also local postmaster, an auditor of the Franklin Co. and mayor of Lewiston. In 1949 the home became headquarters of local American Legion. (190 Bates St.) 52. Smith House: c. 1860. This Greek Revival style house has a double front. Now a rooming house. (194 Bates St.) 53. Dr. William Bradford House: c.1876. Designed by George Coombs with a fine Mansard roof. Dr. Bradford was a well known homeopathic physician. Now used as office space. (54 Pine St.) 54. Kennedy Park: c. 1861. The land was given by the Franklin Company to the City of Lewiston. Named for President John F. Kennedy. 55. Bandstand: 1881. This is the second bandstand to be placed on the site. The curved and decorated polygonal shape and cast iron railing are notable. 56. Lewiston City Building: 1892. Designed by John Calvin Spofford in the Baroque Revival style, the tower is 185 feet above street level.. It replaced a Victorian Gothic structure which was destroyed by fire in 1890. (37 Pine St.) ---PAGE BREAK--- 57. Lewiston Public Library: c. 1903. Coombs & Gibbs designed the Beaux Arts style building erected with a $50,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. Expanded in 1990s into the Pilsbury Block (See # 27) (107 Park St.) 58. Eagles Building: c. 1920. Originally the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 168. Later became known as the Knights of Columbus. Now used as an office building. (103 Park St.) 59. Sun-Journal Building: pre-1900. Home of the major local newspaper. Journal established 1847; Sun, 1893; merged 1989 (104 Park St.) 60. Manufacturers National Bank Bldg. / Fleet Bank: c. 1953. Six-story brick building built by Manufacturers National Bank. Step inside to see a large mural depicting Native American life by the falls. (35 Ash St.) 61. U. S. Post Office: c. 1933. Designed by James Wetmore in Colonial Revival style with strong classical elements. The steel frame structure, concrete slab floors, and masonry walls intended to symbolize government strength and ideals. (49 Ash St.) 62. Healy Asylum: c. 1892. Jefferson Coburn designed this three and one-half story brick structure with granite trim in a Mansard Style. Named in honor of the Bishop of Portland, it was operated by the Grey Sister order as an orphanage and charitable institution for over seventy years. (81 Ash St.) 63. Saints Peter and Paul Church: c.1907- 1937. The original architect of this Gothic cathedral style church was a Belgian, Noel Coumont, who resided in Lewiston in 1905 when the project began. Echoes the Art Deco aesthetic, as Boston architect T.G. O’Connell completed the design after a 28-year lapse in construction. Stained- glass windows installed in 1948. A major Franco-American cultural monument and the second largest church in New England. (27 Bartlett St.) 64. Frye School: 1865. Named for William P. Frye (See also # 93), one of the best known Republican figures of his era. Lewiston mayor 1865-1866, U. S. House 1871-1881, U. S. Senate 1881-1911; as Senate President pro tem, he was twice next in line for the Presidency when the office of Vice President was vacant. Converted to low-income elderly housing. (140 Ash St.) 65. Jordan School: c. 1902. Italian Renaissance style by architect William R. Miller. Lewiston’s second high school until replaced in 1931. Then a grammar school until 1983. Now apartments. Named for Lyman G. Jordan, principal of first high school 15 years, Bates College professor, and school board member 15 years. (35 Wood St.) 66. Capt. Holland House: c. 1872. Good example of a high style Second Empire house. As a tanner, Daniel Holland made boots for the Union Army. Also in lumber, real estate, and banking business. Local offices, state senator, and on Governor’s Council (See also # 88). (142 College St.) 67. Church in the Triangle: 1903. Built as First Universalist Church; became Federated Church in 1936 in merger with Pine Street Congregationalists. Calvary United Methodist Church since 1970s, when they brought the stained-glass window in entrance from former church. (59 Sabattus St.) 68. Lowell’s Corner - Hospital Square. Several small stores at this intersection of Main and Sabattus Streets constituted the ---PAGE BREAK--- earliest center of business in Lewiston. James Lowell probably established his store here as early as 1813. 69. Main Street Plaza: 1920. Originally constructed as a Buick dealership, this renovated landmark now houses medical offices. (287 Main St.) 70. Reynolds-Scruton-Webber House: 1843. Originally built by Nathan Reynolds, grocery wholesaler of the 1840's and 1850's, this is a significant survivor of the period when this area was the commercial center of Lewiston. J. Y. Scruton, a clothing merchant, added the mansard roof in 1874. Later the office of Dr. Wallace Webber. (297 Main St.) 71. Central Maine Medical Center. Built in stages over the years, this hospital was established in 1891 on this site in two houses built by businessmen James Lowell and Samuel R. Bearce. (300 Main St.) 72. Kora Temple: c. 1908. Designed by George Coombs in a Moorish style for the Kora Shrine fraternal organization’s meeting place and headquarters. A four-story red brick structure with white terra cotta ornaments and Harry H. Cochrane’s banquet hall murals. (11 Sabattus St.) 73. St. Joseph’s Church: 1869-1873. The oldest Catholic Church building in Lewiston. Albert Kelsey (See # 46) tricked his superiors in the Franklin Co. into signing a deed granting this prime spot to the church. (257 Main St.) 74. St. Joseph’s Church Rectory: c. 1869. (253 Main St.) 75. Bonnalie Building: 1870. Built for contractor George Bonnalie as office and rental space. By 1886 it contained a grocery store and a parish school for St. Joseph’s Church. The school moved to new quarters in 1958. (249 Main St.) 76. J. L. Hayes Store: 1880. This was initially a grocery store and then a lime and grain business. (280 Main St.) 77. United Baptist Church: 1922. English Gothic style. Congregation formed in 1917 by the merger of the Main Street Free Baptist (on this site), Pine Street Free Baptist, and First Baptist Churches. (250 Main St.) 78. Blanchard Building: c. 1865. This is one of the best remaining commercial structures from Main Street’s heyday as the commercial center of Lewiston. Joseph K. Blanchard was a grocer and provisions dealer, and he was overseer of the poor in our first city government. (238-240 Main St.) 79. Clifford Building: 1909. This office building was designed by the firm of George M. Coombs. A 1914 map indicates there was a dance floor on the third floor. (217 Main St.) 80. Portland-Lewiston Interurban Building: c. 1915. Originally housed the electric cars and administrative offices of the inter-urban electric railway in use from 1915 to 1932. Went out of business because of the Depression and advent of the automobile. Recent renovations have turned it into a first- class medical building. (116 Middle Street) 81. Oak Street School / Dingley Building: c. 1890. Designed by George Coombs in Richardsonian Romanesque Style, the two-story brick structure has a projecting round stair tower and a stone foundation. Renamed in 1899 for Nelson Dingley (See # 90). It has been a teacher’s training school, an elementary school, and now the Lewiston school department administration offices. (36 Oak St.) ---PAGE BREAK--- 82. Oak Park Apartments: c. 1922. Massive home to several businesses, including an automobile dealership, real estate business, shoe supply companies, and a department store. Became apartments for the elderly in 1979. (10 Oak St.) 83. Davis Cadillac Building: c. 1920. A commercial block that housed several auto dealers, including Wade & Dunton Motor Car Co. and Davis Cadillac Co. (37-41 Park St.) 84. 20-22 Park St.: c. 1921. A yellow brick commercial building formerly occupied by car dealers, state liquor store, and furniture store. 85. Singer Realty Co. Building: c. 1929. Lewiston’s best example of modern design with classical detailing. The granite block structure has a terra-cotta facade cut to resemble stone masonry. (193-207 Main St.) 86. Art Deco Block: c. 1929. This two-story, yellow brick building with five bays is one of the finest examples of Art Deco design in Lewiston. (177-189 Main St.) The following sites are not on the map. We hope you have a chance to see some of them. 87. Blake-Ham House: 1885. Queen Anne style house accompanied by a converted carriage house designed by George Coombs. It was owned by L. L. Blake, a prominent furniture dealer, and then by his son-in-law Orland S. Ham. From 1913 to 1981 it housed a convent. (364 Main St.) 88. Holland-Drew House: c. 1854. Italianate style. Originally owned and occupied by Daniel Holland (See # 66). Later occupied by Franklin M. Drew, probate judge, Bates College treasurer, and state Secretary of State. (377 Main St.) 89. Wallace School: 1886. Named for Thomas H. Wallace (See # 45 & 47), member of the Lewiston Board of Education for 29 years. A public school until mid-1990s. (390 Main St.) 90. Dingley-Barker House: pre-1873. Owned by Nelson Dingley, Jr., part owner of Lewiston Evening Journal, twice speaker of the Maine House, and two-term governor in the 1870s. Upon his election to Congress in 1881, Dingley sold the house to Alva Barker, local politician and agent of the Avon Mill (See # (408 Main St.) 91. Col. John M. Frye House: c. 1845. Brick Greek Revival house built by Thomas D. Thorne. Porch added later. John M. Frye was a business leader who was town treasurer for eleven years and served in the State Senate and on the Governor’s Council. (437 Main St.) 92. Wallace H. White House: 1907. Designed by George Coombs, it was built for Wallace H. White, a prominent member of the local business and political community. His son, who also lived here, was Wallace H. White, Jr., member of U. S. House (1917-1931) and U. S. Senate (1931-1949), including the position of minority leader and then majority leader. (449 Main St.) 93. Senator William P. Frye House: c. 1872. Second Empire style planned by George M. Coombs. Home of a leading 19th Century politician (See # 64). (457 Main St.) 94. Day-Reynolds-Gray House: 1875. Unusual asymmetrical towered mansion close to Italianate style. Built for Joseph Day, a mayor of Lewiston; home (1897-1921) of Roscoe Reynolds, a councillor and an alderman; and home of William P. Gray, a theater magnate controlling over 150 theaters in New England in 1920s. (465 Main St.) 95. Frost House: 1887. A Shingle Style residence built by ---PAGE BREAK--- prominent Chicago architect Charles Sumner Frost for his father Albert E. Frost, a businessman and city councillor. The boyhood home of Frederick G. Payne, Jr., Governor (1949- 1953) and U. S. Senator (1953-1959). (476 Main St.) 96. James C. Lord House: c. 1885. Eclectic design by Jefferson L. Coburn with Italianate detail, a Gothic revival tower, and a Queen Anne style stable. A classic example of a prosperous merchant’s house of the period. (497 Main St.) 97. Peck-Chaffers House: 1893. A Colonial Revival house with Queen Anne style wrap-around porch designed by George Coombs for Bradford Peck, founder of Peck’s Department Store (See Then owned by Dr. William Chaffers, active on the school board. (506 Main St.) 98. John D. Clifford House: c. 1926. Mediterranean Revival house by Gibbs & Pulsifer is the only surviving Maine year- round house in this idiom. Occupied by John D. Clifford, a prominent Lewiston lawyer who also served in the state legislature. (14 Ware St.) 99. Hathorn Hall-Bates College: c. 1855-1857. First building of the Maine State Seminary, incorporated in 1856 and became Bates College in 1864. The external appearance of the building, designed by G.J.E. Bryant of Boston, has not been altered. 100. Marcotte Nursing Home: c. 1927-28. William R. Miller architect. Tudor style. First progressive nursing home facility in the area. Francois Marcotte (See # a local leader in the Franco-American community, provided both financial backing and philosophical impetus for the project which was administered by the Sisters of Charity. Marcotte endowed a perpetual trust to care for Franco- Americans. (100 Campus Ave.) 101. Saint Mary’s General Hospital: c. 1902. William R. Miller and amateur architect Father Paul Charland designed this building with Gothic detailing and Tuscan columns. Note the trio of octagonal towers on the corners. Founded by the Sisters of Charity or “Grey Nuns” in 1888 as first Catholic hospital in state. Expansions and modernizations to the facility have occurred. (318 Sabattus St.) 102. Central Maine Civic Center: c. 1959. An ice hockey arena made famous by the 1965 heavyweight championship boxing match between Mohammad Ali and Sonny Liston. Also the site of other prize fights of local boxer and champion Joey Gamache. (140 Birch St.) 103. Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary: c. 1924. Nature preserve and educational resource with walking trails. Administered by Stanton Bird Club. (354 Montello St.) 104. Clough Meeting House: 1846. The oldest church in the city. Erected by the Free Baptists, it had no steeple or other ornamentation. Theological students from Cobb Divinity School often preached to the congregation. A wonderful reminder of Lewiston’s past. (32 South Lisbon Road) 105. Lewiston Grange No. 2. Founded 1874 as second grange organized in Maine. First master, Nelson Ham, also was first master of Maine State Grange. (2 Crowley Rd.) ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- A BRIEF HISTORY OF LEWISTON In 1768 the Pejepscot Proprietors, a Boston-based land company, granted to Jonathan Bagley and Moses Little of Newbury, Massachusetts, land on the east side of the Androscoggin River at Twenty-Mile Falls. The place was named "Lewistown," in honor of the late Job Lewis, a Boston merchant and former Proprietor. The first white settlers came in 1770, and several families followed. Lewiston became a town February 18, 1795. Water power was harnessed relatively early by a canal and a dam built of timber by 1808-1809. The town grew slowly, reaching 1549 inhabitants by 1830. Because most were farmers, the population was widely dispersed. In 1836 local entrepreneurs, primarily the Little family, organized a company to build dams, canals and mills, but they lacked the capital to achieve their goals. Reorganized as the Lewiston Water Power Company in 1848, it was taken over by the Franklin Company in 1857. These Boston investors, led by Benjamin E. Bates, created a “company town.” They were the chief employer, land-holder, landlord, and dominated the city’s financial institutions, political life, and its religious and cultural activities. The company financed the canal system and several textile mills. Irish immigrants were employed in the construction, under the supervision of Capt. Albert H. Kelsey. These mills prospered during the Civil War, as the owners correctly foresaw that the war would be long; they had stockpiled sufficient cotton to maintain production. Mill owners constructed tenements along Canal, Park, and Oxford Streets to provide supervised housing for Yankee farm girls from surrounding towns who provided much of the early work force. In 1850, the population had jumped 99 percent one decade to 3,584 and then 107 percent to 7,424 in 1860. The growing city attracted in 1855 the establishment of Maine State Seminary, which later became Bates College, chartered in 1864. When Lewiston was incorporated as a city, Jacob Barker Ham took office as the first mayor in 1863. Lisbon Street became the main commercial center. Lewiston and Auburn constructed a railroad spur to the Montreal-Portland railroad line about 1873. After that, thousands of French Canadians migrated to Lewiston and settled between Lisbon Street and the river. The rapid in-migration helped to raise the population to 19,083 by 1880. In forty years, the city had grown tenfold. To accommodate the growing population, city services expanded rapidly, including the high school (1850), a fire company (1849), a city park granted by the Franklin Company (1861), a water works (1873), a horse railroad franchise (1881), and the extension of the city water system to Lake Auburn (1899). Lewiston adopted its current city charter in 1979. This established a city administrator and abolished most boards. Throughout the twentieth century, population, industry, and shopping centers expanded outward from the city center. Competition from the South and abroad led to the closure of most of the textile mills. The city is developing new uses for these structures. The population in Lewiston was about 40,000 from 1940-1980, but has declined since then. Further growth in the region has continued in the neighboring towns. PLACE LEWISTON LOGO HERE http://www.ci.lewiston.me.us/