Nichols Block
Encyclopedia
The Nichols Block is a prominent Romanesque Revival style commercial building in downtown Bangor, Maine
. Designed by local architect Wilfred E. Mansur
, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as part of the Great Fire of 1911 Historic District
. The building is one of few in the Exchange St. district of Bangor to have escaped both the Great Fire of 1911
and the so-called urban renewal
programme of the late 1960s.
The building was commissioned by Eugene C. Nichols (better known as E.C. Nichols) who owned one of the largest dry & fancy goods stores in 19th century Bangor. The E.C. Nichols Co. store was on Main Street, across the Kenduskeag Stream from the site of the 1892 Nichols Block. Nichols' new building was apparently an investment, and was initially occupied by Meyer M. Levy's Bangor Clothing Store and, on the upper stories, a "Social Hall" rented for functions. The opening function was a dance, just before Christmas in 1892, hosted by Miss June Nichols, the owner's daughter. Exchange St. was at that time a center of social life in Bangor, with numerous hotels and bars. The central train station was at the end of the street.
Wilfred E. Mansur
was Bangor's most prominent turn-of-the-century architect. In 1895 he also designed E.C. Nichol's house, a wooden mansion with a prominent round tower, still standing on Union St. at the corner with High St.
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. Designed by local architect Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur was the most prominent architect in late 19th and early 20th Century Bangor, Maine. He designed many private and municipal buildings, including the Penobscot County Courthouse and at least seven schools...
, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as part of the Great Fire of 1911 Historic District
Great Fire of 1911 Historic District
The Great Fire of 1911 Historic District is located in downtown Bangor, Maine, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. It preserves Maine's most significant collection of early 20th century public and commercial buildings, and commemorates an urban re-building...
. The building is one of few in the Exchange St. district of Bangor to have escaped both the Great Fire of 1911
Great Fire of 1911
The Great Fire of 1911 took place in Bangor, Maine. A small fire that started in a Downtown shed went out of control and destroyed hundreds of commercial and residential buildings.-History:It started in the afternoon of April 30, 1911 on Broad Street...
and the so-called urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
programme of the late 1960s.
The building was commissioned by Eugene C. Nichols (better known as E.C. Nichols) who owned one of the largest dry & fancy goods stores in 19th century Bangor. The E.C. Nichols Co. store was on Main Street, across the Kenduskeag Stream from the site of the 1892 Nichols Block. Nichols' new building was apparently an investment, and was initially occupied by Meyer M. Levy's Bangor Clothing Store and, on the upper stories, a "Social Hall" rented for functions. The opening function was a dance, just before Christmas in 1892, hosted by Miss June Nichols, the owner's daughter. Exchange St. was at that time a center of social life in Bangor, with numerous hotels and bars. The central train station was at the end of the street.
Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur was the most prominent architect in late 19th and early 20th Century Bangor, Maine. He designed many private and municipal buildings, including the Penobscot County Courthouse and at least seven schools...
was Bangor's most prominent turn-of-the-century architect. In 1895 he also designed E.C. Nichol's house, a wooden mansion with a prominent round tower, still standing on Union St. at the corner with High St.