TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionOne of a series of six original late 19th century wooden window arch forms used in the construction of theTides Institute’s main building in downtown Eastport, Maine. The were used when the building was built in 1887 as the Eastport Savings Bank. The six forms were discovered in the fourth floor attic space of the building shortly after the Tides Institute purchased the building in 2002. The building was designed by architect, Henry N. Black, of Boston and Saint John, New Brunswick and was constructed by B. Mooney & Sons, brick masons, of Saint John, New Brunswick. It is very unusual to have such 19th century window arch forms survive as typically they are thrown away as soon as a building has been built using them. Earle Shettleworth, Jr., long the director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, when told about the forms, reported that he he had never seen such 19th century window arch forms survive anywhere else in Maine. These original forms were reused during the reconstruction of the Tides Institute’s main building in 2005 by G. Drake Masonry of Dixmont, Maine The Tides Institute main building is part of a 30 building Eastport downtown National Register Historic District established in 1982. Most of the buildings in the district date to 1887 following a devastating great fire of October 14, 1886 that leveled the Eastport downtown and waterfront. Two thirds of the buildings in the district were designed by architect, Henry Black. Photo caption: Two of the six original wooden window arch forms used in the construction of theTides Institute’s main building in downtown Eastport, Maine in 1887. The forms were reused during the reconstruction of the building in 2005 by G. Drake Masonry.