Maine State Building
Architect: Charles Sumner Frost, Chicago, Illinois
Area: 4,370
Cost: $30,000
Picturesque World’s Fair, An Elaborate Collection of Colored Views—Published with the Endorsement and Approval of George R. Davis, 1894
THE MAINE BUILDING.—There were few exhibits in the Maine Building. None were required. The building itself was what the state had to show, and it was Maine all over. It was a circular structure, the first story an octagon of solid granite, and the second a square of wood and staff. The roof rose into a dome the height of the lantern at its top being eighty-six feet from the ground. The granite of the first story was illustrative of the state’s varied resources in this direction, the colors of the delicate veining and tracery of the different varieties of stone presenting a most beautiful appearance. The great roof was covered with slate, also from Maine quarries, and the marble of the mantels and other ornaments finished in stone were also of home production. The second story over-hung the first on all sides, the effect being odd, but attractive. The main entrance was beneath the triple solid arches, from one of which projected a boat’s bow done in staff, proper indication of one industry of the state from the ports of which have been launched so many notable vessels. In the first story above the rotunda were the parlors, reception rooms and usual offices. A railed gallery extended around the rotunda at the second floor, giving a fine view of the interior to visitors. The building cost twenty thousand dollars. Evidently the children of the “Pine Tree State” very proud of the country which produced them, and so, for that matter, are the people of all the United States.
The interior of the Maine State Building at Poland Spring, showing the second and third story balconies.
The Ricker Family bought the building for $30,000. Arrangements were made for the dismantling of the building and shipping by freight train back to Maine. It was to take 16 freight cars! The Rickers sent a crew of 19 men to Chicago, led by Forest Walker of Poland, the resort’s head carpenter and civil engineer to take the building down, carefully marking each section. The building was taken apart under the personal supervision of Hiram W. Ricker, loaded on a special train of sixteen cars and transported to Maine, at a cost of over three thousand dollars. It was to become the crowning feature of the opening of the season of 1895. The cornerstone was laid on August 14, 1894, and the Maine State Building was dedicated on July 1, 1895, as part of the celebration marking the Ricker’s settling in Poland.
Leave a Reply