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Ellsworth in Hancock County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
 

County Courthouse and Jail

Ellsworth, Maine

The Museum in the Streets

 
 
County Courthouse and Jail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 17, 2024
1. County Courthouse and Jail Marker
Inscription.
Portland architect Francis Fassett designed the "new" courthouse and jail constructed in 1885. The courthouse featured fireproof rooms and eventually held records from three counties. The law library was declared the finest east of Portland. In 1930, a fire destroyed most of the building, including the law library. Two firemen were killed when the brick belfry tower collapsed. The current courthouse, circa 1939, was built on the same foundation and includes some of the 1885 structure.

The county jail building was first occupied in 1886 by Sheriff Dorephus Fields and family. The two-story Sheriff's living portion had 11 finished rooms and at the rear were 16 jail cells, 12 for criminals and 4 for poor debtors. The massive masonry structure was considered very secure. It was used as a jail until 1979.

Le nouveau palais de justice et la prison furent bâtis en 1885 selon les plans de l'architecte Francis Fassett de Portland. Le palais de justice abritait des salles ignifugées où étaient conservées les archives de trois comtés. La bibliothèque juridique était la plus illustre à l'est de Portland. En 1930, un incendie détruisit une grande partie du bâtiment et la bibliothèque. Deux pompiers perdirent la vie lorsque la tour du clocher en briques s'effondra. Le palais de justice actuel, qui date de 1939, conserve les mêmes
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fondations et une partie du bâtiment de 1885.
La prison du comté fut d'abord occupée en 1886 par la famille du shérif Dorephus Fields. Ce logement de deux étages comprenait onze pièces. À l'arrière on retrouvait 16 cellules, 12 réservées aux criminels et 4 aux débiteurs en défaut de paiement. La structure en maçonne rie était considérée très sécuritaire, Elle servit de prison jusqu'en 1979.
 
Erected by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 3.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
 
Location. 44° 32.573′ N, 68° 25.513′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth, Maine, in Hancock County. It is at the intersection of State Street and Church Street, on the left when traveling north on State Street. Located in front of Hancock County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 State St, Ellsworth ME 04605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Downeast Maine. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also Acadia.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ellsworth Public Library and Peters Block (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); City Hall and The First Congregational Church (about 300 feet away); Welcome to Ellsworth (about 600 feet away); Women in Business (about 600 feet away); Fire of 1933 (about
County Courthouse and Jail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 17, 2024
2. County Courthouse and Jail Marker
Hancock County Courthouse
600 feet away); Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Flood of 1923 (approx. 0.2 miles away); S.K. Whiting Park (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
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Jun. 7, 2026