National Register of Historic Places

Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District

South Harpswell, Cumberland County, Maine
Listed
March 21, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85000615

About this property

The Auburn–Harpswell Association Historic District encompasses a well-preserved enclave of summer residences built in the early 20th century in southern Harpswell, Maine. The district includes ten Shingle style houses, a Colonial Revival dining hall, and a Greek Revival meeting hall. The Auburn Colony, an exclusive company of businessmen from Auburn, Maine, was responsible for their development. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The town of Harpswell consists of several fingers of land, some of which are islands joined to the mainland by bridges, on the east side of Casco Bay on the southern coast of Maine. The principal western finger extends from Brunswick in the north to Potts Point at its very southern tip. Several miles north of Potts Point, in South Harpswell, the peninsula narrows sharply. On the west side of Harpswell Neck Road (Maine State Route 123) near this point is where the Auburn Colony is located. The main access road to the colony is located just south of a tennis court on the colony property. Lining a small network of roads in a roughly east–west orientation are the ten houses of the colony, with the two common buildings just to their north. The Auburn Colony was founded in 1877 by a group of businessmen from Auburn, "for the purpose of securing the material advantage of society, health, and recreation." Twenty small Gothic Victorian cottages were built on the property they acquired, which were tragically destroyed by fire in 1899, although the two community buildings survived. The colony was rebuilt, with a reduced membership, resulting in construction ten 2+1⁄2-story Shingle style houses. Only three have known architects, all credited to the Lewiston firm of Coombs & Gibbs. In addition to the already-mentioned facilities, the association has a salt-water swimming pool and a small beach. National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine

Location

South Harpswell, Cumberland County, Maine
43.74660, -70.01277

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Stover, Capt. Johnson H. Jr., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Bailey Island Cobwork Bridge
Industrial
1.2 mi
Bailey Island Library Hall
Industrial
1.3 mi
Greene Cottage
Industrial
1.5 mi
Orr's Island Meeting House
Industrial
2.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District listed on the National Register?

Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 21, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District?

Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District?

The period of significance for Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Auburn-Harpswell Association Historic District?

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