National Register of Historic Places

U.S. Customhouse and Post Office

Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine
Listed
January 18, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000180

About this property

The U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is a historic federal government building in Waldoboro, Maine. Built 1855–57, it is a fine local example of civic Italianate architecture. For much of the 20th century it housed the Waldoboro Public Library. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The former Waldoboro Customhouse stands in downtown Waldoboro, on the north side of Main Street just west of the Waldo Theatre. It is a two-story brick building, with a hip roof and painted brick exterior. Its exterior is distinguished by the large round-arch openings housing the windows and doors, the metal balcony spanning much of the front facade, and the elaborate cornice. The Waldoboro customs district was established in 1799 and abolished in 1913, and encompassed ports in both Knox and Lincoln counties. Its original customhouse was a wood-frame structure, which was destroyed by fire in 1854. This building, its replacement, was built in 1855-57 to a design by Ammi B. Young the Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury Department. It is one of Young's smaller designs, but highlights his emphasis on Italianate styling and the use of fire-resistant materials throughout. After the customs district was abolished, the building was adapted for use by the Waldoboro Public Library, in which role it served when the building was listed on the National Register in 1974. The library has since moved to new quarters elsewhere on Main Street. The old customhouse is now a private residence. National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine

Location

Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine
44.09565, -69.37527

Categories

COMMERCEEDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about U.S. Customhouse and Post Office

This page lists U.S. Customhouse and Post Office. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

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
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your U.S. Customhouse and Post Office report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Waldo Theatre
Industrial
0 mi
Hutchins House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Reed, Co. Isaac G., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Waldoborough Town Pound
Industrial
0.4 mi
German Church and Cemetery
Colonial
2.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was U.S. Customhouse and Post Office listed on the National Register?

U.S. Customhouse and Post Office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1974.

What type of historic resource is U.S. Customhouse and Post Office?

U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for U.S. Customhouse and Post Office?

The period of significance for U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near U.S. Customhouse and Post Office?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near U.S. Customhouse and Post Office will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

Explore LincolnCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near U.S. Customhouse and Post Office will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report