Brunswick Commercial Historic District

The Brunswick Commercial Historic District encompasses the historic late-19th century commercial core of Brunswick, Maine. It includes the northern four blocks of Maine Street, the town's principal commercial thoroughfare, which was laid out in the late 17th century. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.[1]

Brunswick Commercial Historic District
A view of Maine Street
Brunswick Commercial Historic District is located in Maine
Brunswick Commercial Historic District
Brunswick Commercial Historic District is located in the United States
Brunswick Commercial Historic District
Location50-101 Maine Street
Coordinates43°54′57″N 69°57′56″W
Area14 acres (5.7 ha)
Architectmultiple
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.15000968[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 12, 2016
Maine Street
Former name(s)Twelve-Rod Road
Part of Route 201
NamesakeMaine
Width198 feet (60 m)
AreaMidcoast, Maine
LocationBrunswick, Maine
Postal code04011
Coordinates43.9146°N 69.9648°W / 43.9146; -69.9648
Other
Known forOnly "Main Street" in the U.S. state of Maine named "Maine Street"[2]
StatusStill in use

National Register of Historic Places

The Brunswick Commercial Historic District consists of the northern four blocks of Maine Street, including most of the buildings between Mill and Pleasant Streets. These buildings are typically one or two stories in height, either of brick or frame construction. Most of them are Colonial Revival architecture in style, although a number of earlier 19th century revival styles are also represented. Retail storefronts predominate on the ground floors, with professional offices or residences on the upper floors. One architecturally prominent building is Lemont Block at Maine and Pleasant, it is a three-story brick Second Empire style structure built in 1870.[3]

History

Brunswick, Maine
Main article: Brunswick, Maine

The town of Brunswick's early colonial history begins with the establishment of Fort Andross, on the south bank of the Androscoggin River near the former Cabot Mill site, in 1688. The town of Brunswick was chartered in 1737, and was initially powered economically by mills along the river, and by maritime trade.  Bowdoin College was chartered in 1794, with its campus south of the commercial district, and the mills were expanded in the 19th century, especially after the railroad arrived in 1849. In the 20th century, Brunswick Naval Air Station, southeast of the downtown, also provided an economic benefit to the region.[3]

Maine Street

Maine Street is the prominent thoroughfare in the town of Brunswick, Maine, in Cumberland County. It stretches north from the Frank J. Wood Bridge adjacent to Fort Andross and Brunswick Falls running south past Bowdoin College to Mere Point Road.[4][2]

Maine Street was originally called the "Twelve-Rod Road". A Rod is an Imperial unit equal to 16.5 feet (5.0 m) making the width of Maine Street equal to 198 feet (60 m).[4]

On June 3, 1717, by order of the Pejepscot Proprietors, construction started on the road spanning from Fort George to Maquoit Bay. From the Bowdoin College north to Maquoit Bay, the street would be split and called Mere Point Road.[4]

Notes
a.^ On the inside front cover of the 2nd ed. (1974), the Pejepscot Historical Society states The History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine has long been considered the authoritative text on the three towns through 1878.[5]
b.^ Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Eric, Russell (March 9, 2020). "Why is Brunswick's Maine Street not spelled Main Street?". Portland Press Herald. Portland, Maine. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  3. Staff writer (January 28, 2016). "Brunswick commercial district added to National Register of Historic Places". Portland Press Herold. Portland, Maine. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. Wheeler, George Augustus; Wheeler, Henry Warren (1878). History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine: Including the Ancient Territory Known as Pejepscot (1st ed.). Boston: A. Mudge & Sons, Printers. p. 272. LCCN 01008940 – via Google Books. (Archive source Harvard Library) bc
  5. Wheeler, George Augustus & Wheeler, Henry Warren (1974) [1st pub. 1878]. History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine (2nd ed.). Somersworth: New Hampshire Publishing Co. in collaboration with the Pejepscot Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-91227-439-3.

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