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

They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques Marker image. Click for full size.

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

1. They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

By 1858 Water Street had been transformed from a wilderness into a bustling business district featuring many fine commercial brick and wooden buildings. That year a pioneer photographer, Simon Wing of Waterville, took two stereo views of this transformation. These are the earliest photographs of the Capital City. The west side view of the street (left photo) shows The Granite Bank, Hunt's Block, the five-story Stanley House, and Arch Row. The east side (right photo) presents Meonian Hall, North's Block, and Branch's brick store with its gable to the streets on the corner of Bridge and Water streets. Beyond Bridge Street is a large brick edifice, Darby's Block, and beyond it is the Union Block. All the buildings pictured except Union Block were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1865.

Dès 1858, Water Street avait transformé cette zone sauvage en un quartier d'affaires animé, bordé de nombreux immeubles pittoresques en briques et bois. Cette année-là, un pionnier de la photographie, Simon Wing de Waterville, prit deux vues panoramiques de cette transformation. Ce sont les premières photographies

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de la capitale. La photo de l'Ouest de la rue montre Granite Bank, Hunt's Block, Stanley House avec ses cinq étages, et Arch Row. À l'Est, on voit Meonian Hall, North's Block et le magasin en briques Branch avec son pignon sur rue au coin des rues Bridge et Water. Au-delà de la rue Bridge se trouve un grand bâtiment en briques, Darby's Block, puis, un peu plus loin, Union Block. Tous ces bâtiments, à l'exception d'Union Block furent détruits lors du Grand Incendie de 1865.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Augusta, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 44° 18.929′ N, 69° 46.451′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. Marker is at the intersection of Water Street and Oak Street, on the left when traveling north on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 286 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. The Great Fire / Le Grand incendie (a few steps from this marker); A New Look for Water Street / Un nouvel arrivant dans Water Street

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

2. They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques Marker

Looking south along Water Street

(a few steps from this marker); Augusta's Publishing Empire / L'empire de l'édition à Augusta (within shouting distance of this marker); Market Square / La place du Marché (within shouting distance of this marker); An Ornament to the City / Un joyau de la ville (within shouting distance of this marker); Granite Block / Un Bâtiment en granit (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flag Protest ~ War of 1812 / Drapeau en berne - Guerre de 1812 (about 300 feet away); Steamboat Landing / L'embarquement des bateaux à vapeur (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. GREAT FIRE IN AUGUSTA, MAINE.; The Business Portion of the City Destroyed. (NY Times, 1865). (Submitted on December 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. 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 189 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.