Masonic Building Biddeford, ME. 72.

Masonic Building Biddeford, ME. 72.

Image taken in the center of a busy downtown. At center is an imposing masonry building with large, arched windows, a two-story entrance, and retail establishments on the ground floor. Pedestrians hurry by elaborate storefronts and men standing in doorways, while horses hitched to buggies stand parked along the near side of the street. At the lower left corner a young boy looks out of the busy scene at the camera from the sidewalk, his face perfectly in focus. Granite hitching posts stand along the curbs of the paved sidewalks. After the Civil War, the industrialization of the later-19th century fostered the growth of a middle class able to purchase more and cheaper goods. This prosperity and consumerism is visible in these early 20th century views of Maine's (and other state's) larger towns and cities, where commercial signs and advertisements competed for the attention of passers-by. The Eastern cameraman has captured the center of Biddeford on a typical summer day - likely July - as suggested by the patriotic bunting hung on the house at the right. The large structure at the center is the Masonic Building, likely quite new at the time this picture was taken. Its size and scale relative to its neighboring buildings reflects the pride and popularity of the organization during its "Golden Age", 1870-1920, when "at its peak...as much as 40% of the adult male population held membership in at least one fraternal order." [Wikipedia]. It was common for the Masons, or other fraternal groups such as The Oddfellows, to occupy a major footprint downtown. Many of its members were local professionals and merchants -- hence the incorporation of retail spaces on the street floor. Storefronts here bear signs advertising "W. Guilbault Optometrist", "N.W. Kendall", a purveyer of wallpapers, window shades, picture framing services, books, and stationery [Maine Memory Network] (featuring a stack of suitcases in the entry), Benoit Dunn Company (a men's clothier) its window covered with a large banner listing discounts. The signs continue toward the right: a sidewalk placard advertises a "Cafe for Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Lunch". Another touts "Shine Cigars 5 cents". The next building, a Second Empire style house converted to house a restaurant advertises "Top Notch Cafe/Regular Meals and Lunch/ Special Facilities for Automobile Parties". Next door is "New York Gents Shoe Shine". [Maine Memory Network]