Masonic Hall (Augusta, Maine)

Masonic Hall

Masonic Temple
Location 313–321 Water St., Augusta, Maine
Coordinates 44°18′51″N 69°46′30″W / 44.31417°N 69.77500°W / 44.31417; -69.77500Coordinates: 44°18′51″N 69°46′30″W / 44.31417°N 69.77500°W / 44.31417; -69.77500
Area 0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built 1894 (1894)
Architect Spofford,John
Architectural style Renaissance
MPS Augusta Central Business District MRA
NRHP Reference #

86001695

[1]
Added to NRHP May 02, 1986

The Masonic Hall is a historic commercial and fraternal society building at 313-321 Water Street in downtown Augusta, Maine. Built in 1894, it is a significant work of Boston architect John Spofford, and a good local example of restrained Renaissance Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]

Description and history

The Masonic Hall is located on the east side of Water Street, Augusta's principal downtown thoroughfare, a short way south of the junction with Winthrop Street. The building is a four-story masonry structure, built out of red brick with some granite trim. The ground floor has five storefronts, each with display windows and a recessed entrance to one side. Near the center of the building is the main entrance, set in a round-arch opening flanked by fluted pilasters. The second floor has rectangular keystoned window openings, each of which has a recessed polygonal bay window. Windows on the third and fourth floors are grouped together in columns, with patterned brickwork between, and a rounded arch above. A patterned entablature separates the upper windows from a simple cornice. The windows above the main entrance are more ornately decorated than the others.[2]

The hall was built in 1894 to a design by Boston architect John Spofford, and is a modest and restrained interpretation of the Renaissance Revival. Spofford was at the time already well-known for several commissions in Maine, include an expansion of the Maine State House, the Former Augusta City Hall, and the ornate Vickery Building, also in downtown Augusta.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for Masonic Hall" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
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