Augusta in Kennebec County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

An Ornament to the City / Un joyau de la ville

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

An Ornament to the City / Un joyau de la ville Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

1. An Ornament to the City / Un joyau de la ville Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1856, James North built Meonian Hall, named for Maeonia in Asia Minor. The Italianate building stood on the site of the Burton House, Augusta's first post office in 1789. During the Civil War, patriotic rallies and civic meetings were held, and soldiers and civilians alike enjoyed theatrical productions like The Brides of Garryowen and Mazeppa with R. E. J. Miles and Min-ne-ha-ha, the "highly trained horse." Noted African-American abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke at Meonian Hall on April 1, 1864, a year before the Civil War ended. Burned in the Great Fire of 1865, Meonian was soon rebuilt. It burned again in 1904, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it was rebuilt immediately, making the current structure the third Meonian Hall.

En 1856, James North construisit Meonian Hall, nommé en l'honneur de Maeonia en Asie Mineure. Le bâtiment de style italianisant se trouvait sur le site de Burton House, la première poste d'Augusta en 1789. Pendant la Guerre de Sécession, des ralliements patriotiques et réunions civiques y eurent lieu, et soldats et civils appréciaient

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les productions théâtrales comme The Brides of Garryowen et Mazeppa avec R. E. J. Miles et Min-ne-ha-ha, le "cheval bien dressé." Le célèbre abolitionniste afro-américain Frederic Douglas fit un discours à Meonian Hall le 1^er avril 1864, un an avant la fin de la guerre de Sécession. Brûlé lors du Grand Incendie de 1865, Meonian fut vite reconstruit. Il rebrûla en 1904, mais comme un phénix renaissant des ses cendres, il fut immédiatement rebâti, ce qui fait du bâtiment actuel le troisième Meonian Hall.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Architecture • Communications • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Augusta, Maine series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1864.

Location. 44° 18.97′ N, 69° 46.434′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. Marker is on Water Street north of Oak Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 218 Water Street, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Fort Western on the Kennebec (within shouting distance of this marker); D.W. Adams Department Store / Le grand magasin de D.W. Adams

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

2. An Ornament to the City / Un joyau de la ville Marker

Looking north along Water Street

(within shouting distance of this marker); A New Look for Water Street / Un nouvel arrivant dans Water Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Fire / Le Grand incendie (within shouting distance of this marker); They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques (within shouting distance of this marker); Augusta's Publishing Empire / L'empire de l'édition à Augusta (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Market Square / La place du Marché (about 500 feet away); Steamboat Landing / L'embarquement des bateaux à vapeur (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . . The Museum in the Streets Tour Map, Augusta, Maine. (Submitted on December 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.