Auburn in Androscoggin County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Roak Block

Auburn, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets —

Roak Block Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

1. Roak Block Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

A growing demand for shoes and boots during the Civil War established Auburn as a shoe manufacturing center. Jacob Roak, Ara Cushman, Jeremiah Dingley and others strived to build "a first-rate shoe manufacturing center." Roak Block, located on Main Street in Auburn, was built in 1871-72 as a "cradle" to enable shoe firms to gain their start. Each manufacturer invested in and owned a vertical section of the nine-part structure. The ground floor served as retail storefront while the upper floors were used for manufacturing shoes. This became the dominant industry, and Auburn was considered "the shoe capital of the world." It is recorded, "In 1917 one factory in Auburn was producing 75 percent of the world's supply of white canvas shoes."

La forte demande de souliers et de bottes pendant la Guerre de Sécession transforme Auburn en centre de production de chaussures. Jacob Roak, Ara Cushman, Jeremiah Dingey parmi d'autres décident d'y créer un centre d'excellence de la chaussure. Le bâtiment Roak dans la rue principale à Auburn voit le jour en 1871-72 et sert d'incubateur aux enterprises qui veulent

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s'installer. Chaque fabriquant investit et possède une section verticale de l'usine qui en comprend neuf. Le rez-de-chaussée sert de magasin et les étages supérieurs son consacrés à la production. Cela devient l'industrie dominante de la ville et Auburn est reconnue comme la « capitale mondiale de la chaussure ». En 1917, on dit que « 75 pour cent des chaussures de toile blanche vendues dan le monde proiennent de l'usine d'Auburn ».

Erected 2019 by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number A6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Auburn-Lewiston, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 44° 5.753′ N, 70° 13.527′ W. Marker is in Auburn, Maine, in Androscoggin County. It is on Main Street (Maine Route 136) just north of Mechanics Row, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 146 Main St, Auburn ME 04210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Festival Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Ecology of the Riverbanks / La Biodiversité des Berges (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Auburn, Maine

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

2. Roak Block Marker

(about 300 feet away); Auburn's Agriculture, Forestry and Resource Protection Zone (about 400 feet away); Auburn L.L. Bean Store / Le Magasin L.L. Bean À Auburn (about 500 feet away); Great New Auburn Fire / Le Grand Incendie du Nouvel-Auburn (about 600 feet away); Edward Little House 1827 / La Maison d'Edward Little 1827 (about 700 feet away); Civil War Memorial (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Auburn.

Roak Block, directly across the street from its namesake marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

3. Roak Block, directly across the street from its namesake marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.