National Register of Historic Places

Topsham Historic District

Topsham, Sagadahoc County, Maine
Listed
January 9, 1978
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
78000198

About this property

The Topsham Historic District encompasses the historic village center of Topsham, Maine. Extending along parts of Elm, Green, and Pleasant Streets, the area has a fine collection of 19th and early 20th-century architecture, with the majority built before 1850. It is almost entirely residential, with only a few non-residential uses, including a church. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The town of Topsham is located on the north bank of the Androscoggin River, opposite the town of Brunswick in the western part of Maine's Mid Coast region. Area for a town center was set aside in the 1639, but the town was abandoned during conflicts with local indigenous persons of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It was resettled beginning in 1714 under the auspices of the Pejepscot Proprietors, a Boston-based consortium of businessmen, but permanent occupation did not take place until the 1730s. It continued to be subjected to native attacks in King George's War and the French and Indian War, hampering growth until the 1760s. Sawmills and gristmills were built on the river, beginning significant growth in both Topsham and Brunswick. A bridge was built across the river in 1796. The historic section of Topsham Village is roughly centered on the junction of Elm, Pleasant, and Green Streets. It extends south on Green Street and north on Pleasant Street, as far as Perkins Street. Its western extent is Main Street (United States Route 201), where a few houses on the east side are included, and extends east on the north side of Elm Street as far as the railroad right-of-way just west of Maine State Route 196. The district has 58 historic buildings, most of which are residences built before 1850. Fully half the buildings are Federal in style, with Greek Revival architecture also well represented. The only buildings not originally built as a residence are the 1835 Federal-style Baptist church, and the town offices, which are housed in a c. 1840 academy, restyled about 1900 in the Colonial Revival style. National Register of Historic Places listings in Sagadahoc County, Maine

Location

Topsham, Sagadahoc County, Maine
43.92689, -69.95862

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Topsham Fairgrounds Grandstand
Industrial
0.3 mi
Purinton Family Farm
Industrial
0.4 mi
Pejepscot Paper Company
Civil War
0.5 mi
Lincoln Street Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi
Dunlap, John, House
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Topsham Historic District listed on the National Register?

Topsham Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Topsham Historic District?

Topsham Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Topsham Historic District?

The period of significance for Topsham Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Topsham Historic District?

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