Our History
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The Maine State Building
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Maine State Building At the Columbian Exposition 1893 |
The Dedication at Poland Spring 1895 |
The Columbian Exposition of 1893 commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America and was a notable event. It was lighted by the new wonder, electricity, and featured most of the innovations of the 19th century.
The Maine State Building was built by the state to promote Maine. It was designed by Charles Sumner Frost a Lewiston, Maine native and graduate of MIT in 1874.
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
Forest 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
The octagon building features quarter sawn oak, the craftsman of the Morse Company of Bangor carved the mantel and other pieces.
The Maine State Building is now under the supervision of the Poland Spring Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation two of the remaining historic buildings on Ricker Hill, the Maine State Building and the All Souls Chapel.
The Maine State Building, placed on the Register of Historic Places in 1974, brings this past alive with its displays, pictures, and artifacts of Poland Spring, the Ricker family of innkeepers, and the Columbian Exposition. The World's Fair Room, the Golf Room, The Winter on the Hill, The Dinning Room and the Ricker Room (this year will feature Hiram W. and Janette Marie, the youngest son of daughter and the most worldly.
The third floor art gallery is entering its fourth year, features local artist: Gene Fuller, Kathleen Rohert, Mike and Dominic Kennuci and Bill Fuller.