Pennell Institute

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Pennell Institute
Pennell Institute, Gray, Maine.jpg
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LocationLewiston Rd., Gray, Maine
Coordinates 43°53′16″N70°19′41″W / 43.88778°N 70.32806°W / 43.88778; -70.32806 Coordinates: 43°53′16″N70°19′41″W / 43.88778°N 70.32806°W / 43.88778; -70.32806
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1876 (1876)
ArchitectGoff, Henry
Architectural style Italianate
NRHP reference # 82000750 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 12, 1982

The Pennell Institute is a historic government building at 24 Main Street in Gray, Maine. Built 1876-86 as a gift to the town by Henry Pennell, it housed the town high school for many years, and now houses municipal offices. A fine example of institutional high style Italianate architecture, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. [1]

Gray, Maine Town in Maine, United States

Gray is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,761 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. Gray is located at the intersection of state Routes 4, 26, 100, 115, 202 and the Maine Turnpike exit 63 midway between the state's two largest cities, Portland and Lewiston. The town includes frontage on Little Sebago Lake, Crystal Lake, and Forest Lake.

Italianate architecture 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture

The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Contents

Description and history

The former Pennell Institute building is located in Gray's village center, on the south side of Main Street (US Route 202). It is a 2-1/2 story brick building with a gable roof and tower. A tall 2-1/2 story gabled section projects from the front, with single-story porches on either side, sheltering the original entrances. The front of the projection has corner pilasters, round-arch recessed panels, narrow round-arch windows, a wider round-arch window at the gable, and decorative brickwork at the cornice. The tower above features a clock, set in a round-arch panel, topped by a flared cornice, belfry, and a crested and flared truncated pyramidal roof. The building's sides are five bays long, defined by round-arch recessed panels two stories in height. Windows here, as on the front, have bracketed stone hoods and sills. A modern ell extends to the rear, with wings out to its sides. Set south of the main building is the former laboratory building, built later but stylistically sympathetic to the original. [2]

Gable roof may have eaves or parapet; no rake overhanging

A gable roof is the classic, most commonly occurring roof shape in those parts of the world with cold or temperate climates. It consists of two roof sections sloping in opposite directions and placed such that the highest, horizontal edges meet to form the roof ridge. The design of this type of roof is achieved using rafters, roof trusses or purlins. The pitch of the roof and the height of the gutters can vary greatly.

Pilaster decorative architectural element giving the appearance of a supporting column

The pilaster is an architectural element in classical architecture used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wall surface, usually treated as though it were a column, with a capital at the top, plinth (base) at the bottom, and the various other elements. In contrast to a pilaster, an engaged column or buttress can support the structure of a wall and roof above.

Cornice horizontal decorative molding that crowns a building or furniture

A cornice is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns a building or furniture element – the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the top edge of a pedestal or along the top of an interior wall. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown.

The town of Gray has offered high school education since the early 19th century, but it was poorly organized for many years. By 1870 the need for a proper high school, with a permanent full-time staff was evident. Henry Pennell, then the town's wealthiest resident, promised to build the town a high school. Work was begun on this building was begun in 1876, but construction languished, and it was still incomplete in 1884, when Pennell died. In his will, he bequeathed additional funds to complete the building, including an endowment for maintenance and bequests for the library and laboratory. The building was finally completed in 1886, and graduated its first class three years later. [2]

The building now houses municipal offices.

See also

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine Wikimedia list article

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine.

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References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for Pennell Institute". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
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