NRHP Reference # 70000076 Added to NRHP 28 October 1970 | Built 1825-1899 Area 105 ha | |
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Architectural style Federal, Mid 19th Century Revivals, Late Victorian Similar | ||
The Hallowell Historic District encompasses the historic 18th and 19th-century heart of Hallowell, Maine. The city developed as a major port on the Kennebec River, during which time its downtown and adjacent residential area were built up. Fully half of the area's more than 400 buildings were built before 1865. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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Description and history
The city of Hallowell was settled in the 1760s, and its early center layout was made in 1771. The principal artery, Water Street (United States Route 201), following the west bank of the river, was originally a Native American trail, and two of its westerly leading cross streets, Winthrop and Center Streets, were also laid out early. At first an agricultural community, Hallowell developed as a regional center of the printing industry in the early 19th century, and as a granite processing center in the late 19th century. It was eventually eclipsed in importance by Augusta, just to the north, which became the state capital.
The bounds of district are a rectangle, whose southern boundary is at Litchfield Road, and whose northern boundary is roughly at Page Street. The eastern boundary is the river, and the western boundary roughly follows Middle, Warren, and Pleasant Streets. The district includes about 450 buildings, most of which were built before 1900, with fully half standing before 1865. It includes residential properties, including the home of Maine Governor Joseph R. Bodwell (1875), and a significant number of wood-frame and masonry commercial buildings. One of these, built in 1813, originally housed the first bookstore located east of Portland.