On June 10th there was an Annual Meeing for the Friends of te Flariton building also known as the old part of the old cony high school. The guyest speaker was Earle G. Shettleworth. Director Maine historic Presevation Commission. He Authored and co-authored a number of books about Maine that can be bought in the Maine section of Barnes and Noble bookstore at least in Augusta. His latest book dealt with Victorian Augusta (which I think was about 1866-1890 if I am not mistaken.) Maine has been able to keep a number of poliitcal buildings because of Earle. He first came here to Augusta in 1973 and spent almost every day working here even though he didn't live here the entire time. He has a long career in education and historic preservatioon and served under many govenors for historic preservation. (He has a longer resume, but I couldn't write it down fast enough.)
Here is a rough idea about what he spoke about during a slide show presentation:
"What are some of the cultural assets of the city? Most communities home to separate communities on both sies of the river: Lewiston Auburn, Waterville and winslow, Dover Foxcroft...even though dover foxcroft joined together. Augusta is on both sides of the river. in 1620's there was Cushnoc trading post. in 1754 The development of the Kennbec river was forthe American Revolution with it's battles here in Maine and in Quebec. Then it became a town and then a city. In the 1820's Augusta ran into some competion. We were the 23rd state to join the union under the Missouri compromise. the original capital building was in Portland which is now Merrill Auditoruim and city hall. Portland was destroyed three times during military campaigns. twice in the 17th centuary and once in the18th century. So it was decided that it's not the best place to have a capital for this reason. in 1827 he legislators were offred Weston's Hill south of the principal villiage. It waws litterally EMERGED from the wilderness with small farms. This was packaged with land that extended down to the Kennebec river. In 1829-1832 The Capital building rose on Weston's Hill with the Charles Woofinch design. In 1832 a sea captain built what is now the Blaine House. (Which is were the state governors live.) The Capital building was constructed from Hallowell Granite. The budget was $80,000 and the actual cost was $145,000. From 1832- 1890 i was the same artutecture that designed the Mssachusetts State house and the CApital buliding in Hartford CT. Maine's was a classical reveivial style different from Boston's brick design. Many battles went on with Portland annually to keep thestate capital here or to move it down there. This lasted until 1907 when the peoplepasted a state consitotial admendment that made Augusta the permant Capital. In 1890 a new building was made thatdoubledit's size and is still in use today. In 1889 Portland offered it's western Prominard and money to build the Capital down there. In 1909 $350,000 was set aside to expand capital to it's current size. the Bullfinch building was gutted. The new senate chamber on the left and the new repesentive chamvbe on the right. With a metal and coppe roof it was completed in 1910. the work was done for under the $350,000 appropriated. There were coer's cut. On the 4th floor there were wooden mock Boards painted to look like the Marble that was used on the other floors where the marble ends.
In the 1990's the basement lookedlikea tired old high school. The were orn pipes, electrical and tiles. In 1994 on the eve of the McKernan Administrationthe dome light was lite. This hasn't been lite since World War II and is now lite every evening. 1998-2001 ther was a very aggressive program. $35 million Dollar renovation. Each year, a major part of the building renovated to bring t he building back into the 21st Century.Today we have a building we can be proud of with an attached $25 Million dollar office building renovated with an underground connector and a beautifull sky light."
Other cultural assests atached to the State House Complex:
Capital Park Laid out very year Capital building was set up. During the American Civil War, Mustering and training of several regiments took place. these were the 3rd, 7th,8th 9th 11th, 14th, aand 15th. by 1863 they were chewed up by uses of training ground. A farmer was hired to re-seed and re-grass the Capital field. This park is a treasure. There is a sense of a treasure and dramatic view.
