Contributed by Thomaston Historical Society
- Item 26663
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Description
On May 7, 1823 Limestone Hill was selected as the site for the state prison. The property, consisting of ten acres of land, including the quarry of limestone used by the first proprietor and his successors, Wheaton, Knox and others, was purchased from Gov. William King for $3000. The prison was built in 1824 at which time the intersection of Main and Wadsworth Streets became known as Prison Corner or Upper Corner.
Edward O’Brien and Benjamin Carr built the Carr and O’Brien Block on the corner as the home of the Georges Bank, founded with 115 stockholders, Edward O’Brien its president. Edward O'Brien was a successful businessman and shipbuilder. Carr had come from Palermo 10 years earlier to be warden of Maine State Prison. The building now serves as a showroom for the prison, which has been relocated to Warren.
The Warden's brick house is in the center of the picture. This was later destroyed by fire.
About This Item
- Title: Prison Corner, Thomaston, ca. 1871
- Creation Date: circa 1871
- Subject Date: circa 1871
- Location: Prison Corner, Thomaston, Knox County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 19 cm x 24 cm
- Local Code: PrisonPhotographBox
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Prisons--Maine--Thomaston
- Jails--Maine--Thomaston
- Maine State Prison
- Stores & shops--Maine--Thomaston
- Public architecture--Maine--Thomaston
- Buildings--Maine--Thomaston
People
Other Keywords
- brick building
- Carr O'Brien Block
- Georges Bank
- limestone
- Limestone Hill
- Main Street
- Palermo
- prison showroom
- quarry
- state prison
- Upper Corner
- Wadsworth Street
- warden
- Warden
- Warren
For more information about this item, contact:
Thomaston Historical SocietyPO Box 384, Thomaston, ME 04861
(207) 354 2295
Website
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