Augusta in Kennebec County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Granite Block / Un Bâtiment en granit
The Museum in the Streets
By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017
1. Granite Block / Un Bâtiment en granit Marker
Inscription.
Granite Block, also, Un Bâtiment en granit. The Museum in the Streets.
Amid the destruction of the 1865 Great Fire, a new and magnificent building was already rising. Granite Block, built at the corner of Water Street and Market Square, was a three-story edifice faced with granite. The third floor had a 1500 seat hall and large stage to accommodate civic events and theatrical touring companies. Granite Hall was a popular location for meetings - Maine suffrage women organized here in 1873. Many famous actors appeared, including Laura Keene and Joseph Jefferson. The building was damaged twice by fire, but rebuilt. In 1930 it was renovated into the Capitol Movie Theater. After entertaining several generations of Augusta moviegoers, it closed. In the 1960s local groups tried to maintain the building, but another fire led to demolition in 1983.
Au milieu des décombres du Grand Incendie de 1885, un nouveau bâtiment magnifique vit le jour. Granite Block, construit au coin de Water Street et de la place Market Square, était un bâtiment de trois étages avec une façade en granit. Le troisième étage possédait une salle de 1500 places avec une grande estrade pour toutes sortes de manifestations et tournées théâtrales - Granite Hall était un lieu populaire pour toutes sorties de réunions - les suffragettes du Maine y fondèrent leur mouvement en 1873. De nombreux acteurs célèbres y jouèrent, dont Laura Keene et Joseph Jefferson. Le bâtiment brûla deux fois, mais on le reconstruisit. En 1930 il fut transformé en cinéma, le Capitol Movie Theater. Après avoir divèrti plusieurs générations de cinéphiles à Augusta, il ferma ses portes. Dans les années 60, plusieurs associations locales tentèrent de préserver le bâtiment, mais un autre incendie engendra sa démolition en 1983.
[Photo captions, from left to right, read] . . Granite Block, c. 1879
. Postcard view of Granite Block showing Kennebec Savings Bank, c. 1918. . This historical marker was erected by Augusta Historic Preservation Commission, Kennebec Savings Bank, and the Maine Community Foundation. It is in Augusta in Kennebec County Maine
Amid the destruction of the 1865 Great Fire, a new and magnificent building was already rising. Granite Block, built at the corner of Water Street and Market Square, was a three-story edifice faced with granite. The third floor had a 1500 seat hall and large stage to accommodate civic events and theatrical touring companies. Granite Hall was a popular location for meetings - Maine suffrage women organized here in 1873. Many famous actors appeared, including Laura Keene and Joseph Jefferson. The building was damaged twice by fire, but rebuilt. In 1930 it was renovated into the Capitol Movie Theater. After entertaining several generations of Augusta moviegoers, it closed. In the 1960s local groups tried to maintain the building, but another fire led to demolition in 1983.
Au milieu des décombres du Grand Incendie de 1885, un nouveau bâtiment magnifique vit le jour. Granite Block, construit au coin de Water Street et de la place Market Square, était un bâtiment de trois étages avec une façade en granit. Le troisième étage possédait une salle de 1500 places avec une grande estrade pour toutes sortes de
By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017
2. Granite Block / Un Bâtiment en granit Marker
Looking south along Water Street
manifestations et tournées théâtrales - Granite Hall était un lieu populaire pour toutes sorties de réunions - les suffragettes du Maine y fondèrent leur mouvement en 1873. De nombreux acteurs célèbres y jouèrent, dont Laura Keene et Joseph Jefferson. Le bâtiment brûla deux fois, mais on le reconstruisit. En 1930 il fut transformé en cinéma, le Capitol Movie Theater. Après avoir divèrti plusieurs générations de cinéphiles à Augusta, il ferma ses portes. Dans les années 60, plusieurs associations locales tentèrent de préserver le bâtiment, mais un autre incendie engendra sa démolition en 1983.
[Photo captions, from left to right, read]
• Granite Block, c. 1879
• Postcard view of Granite Block showing Kennebec Savings Bank, c. 1918.
Erected by Augusta Historic Preservation Commission, Kennebec Savings Bank, and the Maine Community Foundation. (Marker Number 18.)
Location. 44° 18.874′ N, 69° 46.464′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. Marker is on Water Street
south of Winthrop Street/Front Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 295 Water Street, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 5, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
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