Maine State Building
A
visit to the Maine State Building begins with an over whelming feeling
of disbelief that in the late nineteenth century such a magnificent
building could be built with materials sent from Maine to Chicago and
then later moved back to Maine to Poland Spring by train and ox cart!
The Maine State Building was originally built in 1893 for the Chicago
Worlds Fair also known as the Columbian Exposition. The Fair was to
celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
All 44 states, dozens of countries and even companies sent buildings to
the grounds to participate in the grand event. In total, there were
almost 200 buildings on the grounds.
“It was considered best to construct, if possible, a building of Maine granite, slate and other materials that would typify and exhibit these industrial products so abundant in our State…The State building occupied a commanding and desirable location at Jackson Park, on the shore of that vast inland sea, Lake Michigan.” 1895 Report of Board of World’s Fair Managers.
The State of Maine appropriated money to construct the building and the design of Charles Sumner Frost, originally of Lewiston, was chosen. The building was to be made of Maine materials in order to exhibit the quality of the state’s resources as well as the quality of its craftsmanship. The first floor exterior of the octagonal building was made of Maine granite from Norridgewock, Freeport, Biddeford, Hallowell, Vinelhaven, Addison, Red Beach and elsewhere in the state while the roof was 40 tons of Maine black slate from the Monson Slate Company of Monson. The wood that made up the interior and exterior came from Maine forests and crafted by Maine crafters while the fine carved oak fireplace mantel was crafted by Morse and Company of Bangor. The original door and window screens were manufactured by the Portland Screen Company and E.T. Burrowes Company of Portland and the plush portieres were supplied by the Sanford Manufacturing Company of Sanford.
The Ricker Family bought the building for $30,000. Arrangements were
made for the dismantling of the building and shipping by freight train
back to Maine. It was to take 16 freight cars! 
"The Rickers sent a crew of 19 men to Chicago, led by Forrest Walker of Poland, the resort's head carpenter and civil engineer to take the building down, carefully marking each section. The building was taken apart under the personal supervision of Hiram W. Ricker, loaded on a special train of sixteen cars and transported to Maine, at a cost of over three thousand dollars...to become the crowning feature of the opening of the season of 1895. The corner stone was laid on August 14, 1894, and the Maine State Building was dedicated on July 1, 1895, as part of the celebration marking the Ricker's settling in Poland." - Maine State Building Centennial, 1895-1995
Below are the diagrams of the original floor plans when the building was
reconstructed at Poland Spring.
The first floor 
The
second floor
After its move to Poland Spring, the building underwent several minor
and major renovations. A third floor was added to the building although
the height of the building did not change. Skylights were added and the
interior glass ceiling was replaced with a similar but much more ornate
design. The first floor was dedicated as a library 
and
reading area, while later on mineral and botany exhibits were added.
Originally the library had the almost 300 books that were in the
building at Chicago and over the course of several decades grew to
holdings of almost 10,000 volumes. The second floor was divided into
four bedrooms with private bathrooms and with storage space. The third
floor was added to establish an Art Gallery where American Art was
exhibited.
When the Job Corps came to Poland Spring in 1966, the owners decided to
box up a lot of the building contents and put them in storage. In 1968,
a four day auction was held where many art pieces, books, furniture and
much more were sold. When the Preservation Society took ownership of the
building – years of mismanagement and neglect had taken its toll and the
building was in less then deserved condition. While some items have been
returned, either through purchase or donation, less than 5% of the books
are in the library, a small number of art pieces and other furnishings
are present. The items that are part of the museum display are a
sampling of what was once on the entire property.