National Register of Historic Places

Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation)

Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine
Listed
November 12, 1973
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
73000146

About this property

The Richmond Historic District encompasses the historic village center of Richmond, Maine. Established in the 17th century, the town reached its height of prosperity in the 19th century as a major shipbuilding center on the Kennebec River. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The town of Richmond's history dates to 1649, when land in the area was purchased from Native Americans by Christopher Lawson. A fort was built here in 1719 as a defense against Native American attacks, which was abandoned after the construction of forts further up the Kennebec River. Richmond was incorporated as part of Bowdoinham in 1762, and separated from that town in 1823. During the 19th century, it was a major local shipbuilding center, producing more than 200 ships between 1815 and 1890, the height of its economic success. One of the results of this economic success are a well-preserved collection of residential and commercial architecture in its village center; none of its shipbuilding yards have survived. The historic district is bounded on the north by Kimball Street, the west by High Street, the south by South Street, and the east by the Kennebec River. This area includes a stretch of modest commercial development on Main Street, which runs perpendicular to the river, with a few fine brick commercial buildings on River Street as well. Prominent buildings include the four-story Greek Revival Hathorn Block, built in 1850 by Jefferson Hathorn, a prominent local shipbuilder and captain. The 1882 Southard Block, also on River Street, was built by T.J. Southard, the town's leading shipbuilder of that period. Southard's house was built in 1855, and is one of the state's finest examples of Italianate architecture. National Register of Historic Places listings in Sagadahoc County, Maine

Location

Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine
44.08641, -69.80407

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEARCHITECTUREMARITIME 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
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
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

Swan Island Historic District
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1.5 mi
Bowman-Carney House
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1.5 mi
Norlands, The
Listed
2.3 mi
Dresden Brick School House
Industrial
2.3 mi
Pownalborough Courthouse
Industrial
2.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation) listed on the National Register?

Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation)?

Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation) is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation)?

The period of significance for Richmond Historic District (Additional Documentation) is recorded as the listed era.

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