From collection Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company Collection
Main St., Searsport, Me 9
This streetscape shows the center of Searsport looking east on Main Street. Several of the mid-19th century commercial brick blocks still standing are visible. At the left is a row of small, frame structures, the 3.5 story brick Smart Block, the Leach Building, the Pendleton ( with dormers) and Whitcomb Blocks. The use of brick, and granite to frame the storefronts and stoops is a distinctive characteristic of early-mid 19th century Maine coastal commercial blocks. On the right is the steep Mansard tower roof of the Merrill Trust Bank, built in 1891. The mid-19th century building at the far right is now gone; it was apparently a frame commercial structure dressed up with quoins on the front corners. The photographer has posed people strolling on the wooden sidewalks, children gathered in front of a shop window, and a man driving a horse and carriage up the center of the dirt street. A large clock, looking like a giant pocket watch, hangs from the front of the jewelry store building front on the far right.
