National Register of Historic Places

Williams Block

Augusta, Kennebec County, Maine
Listed
May 1, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86001699

About this property

The Williams Block is a historic commercial building at 183-187 Water Street in downtown Augusta, Maine. Built in 1862, it is the only remaining building south of Bridge Street to survive a devastating 1865 fire, and one of a small number of surviving commercial buildings (of many) designed by Francis H. Fassett. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The Williams Block stands on the east side of Water Street, Augusta's principal downtown thoroughfare, a short way south of its junction with Bridge Street. It is a three-story brick building, six bays wide, with a flat roof and projecting cornice. The ground floor is divided into two storefronts, each with a recessed entry and large display windows; one of them also has an original broad band of transom windows above. The upper floor bays are divided into groups of three, articulated by pilasters. The windows are set in rounded-arch openings, with keystoned molded hoods, and bracketed lintels that are joined together within each group. The block was designed by Francis H. Fassett, then Maine's leading architect. It was built for Reuel Williams, then one of Augusta's leading businessmen and politicians. Although Fassett designed many buildings in Augusta, many of the commercial ones were destroyed in the 1865 fire, and this is the only one to survive. Fassett is credited with several early post-fire buildings in Water Street, some of which are located across the street from this one. National Register of Historic Places listings in Kennebec County, Maine

Location

183--187 Water St.
Augusta, Kennebec County, Maine
44.31682, -69.77405

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Williams Block

This page lists Williams Block. 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 Williams Block report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Whitehouse Block
Industrial
0 mi
Noble Block
Civil War
0 mi
Adams, D. V., Co.-Bussell and Weston
Industrial
0 mi
Sturgis and Haskell Building
Industrial
0 mi
Libby-Hill Block
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Williams Block listed on the National Register?

Williams Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Williams Block?

Williams Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Williams Block?

The period of significance for Williams Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Williams Block?

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 Williams Block will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Kennebec County

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

Explore KennebecCounty ›

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 Williams Block will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report