Many of us are lamenting the limitations of travel this summer. Thankfully we live in a state of extreme beauty with many fascinating places to visit. Here at WC!, we realize there are numerous destinations off the beaten path where we can explore Maine’s incredible art, artists, and natural landscape. The On the Road series is designed to explore areas that are art destinations in their own right and/or sites where we can create our own works of art.
The Pownalborough Courthouse stands on grounds that were at the time of its construction in 1761 the site of Fort Shirley, one of the first inland forts built by the British on the river. The courthouse has a roughly square three-story main block, framed in wood, covered by a hip roof, and clad in wooden clapboards.
Construction began on the courthouse in 1761, and the county’s first court session was held in the unfinished building later that year. In addition to housing the court facilities, the building also served as a tavern, an inn, a post office, a fencing hall, a dance hall, a church, and a meeting house, and had living quarters on the third floor. Famous past visitor’s include John Adams, Benedict Arnold, and midwife Martha Ballard.
It is now open seasonally as a museum dedicated to local history.
Tune in to our Facebook Page at 3pm Thursday and look for our Facebook premiere! The video will also be saved in our video section for viewing at any time after the Facebook premiere.
We would like to thank our program Ambassador Sponsors, Colby Center for the Arts and Humanities, Kennebec Savings Bank, and MaineGeneral Health; and Advocate Sponsor Bangor Savings Bank.