HOULTON, Maine — Houlton’s iconic Superior Courthouse is getting a facelift this summer in order to ensure the historic building keeps its status on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Construction at the Aroostook County Superior Courthouse consists of replacing a failing roof platform and railings on the front entrance portico, as well as some cosmetic restoration work to the pillars, according to Bryan Jandreau, facilities and IT director for Aroostook County.
The courthouse has remained open during the construction, which began Monday, Aug. 16.
“The replacement is being constructed to maintain the integrity of the building’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places,” Jandreau said. “Based on the 1927 blueprints, I believe the portico was added to the building in 1928 and not part of the original construction in 1859 or additional work that was done in 1895.”
The Aroostook County Courthouse and Jail is located on Court Street in the center of Houlton. The building was built in 1859 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 26, 1990.
In the application letter to the National Register of Historic Places, the courthouse was described as, “Stylistically, the courthouse building exhibits a blend of its original Italianate form and Colonial Revival features from the turn of the century. The historic brick jail and sheriff’s residence, originally a separate building, is of Romanesque Revival design.”
The current railing across the top of the courthouse portico was installed roughly 20 years ago and replaced black rod iron railings before that, Jandreau added.
“Neither of these railings held true to the building design,” Jandreau said. “The new railing to be installed will have teardrop type balusters, which are more representative to the period architecture.”
The original hanging portico light fixture will be reinstalled once the construction is completed.
“Although architectural integrity is a big part of this project, the main reason for the work is to repair the failing infrastructure of the portico,” Jandreau said.
The contracted completion date is Aug. 30.
