Name/Title
Frontier National Bank Building | 28 Water Street, Eastport, Maine | Eastport Historic DistrictDescription
-WATER028
I7-0D5-01
Eastport Historic District
From Sunrise County Architecture (2nd revised and enlarged edition) 1996, p.26:
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
The Frontier National Bank was built in 1882, and is one ofllie few buildings on Eastport's waterfront that withstood the fire of 1886. It did lose its roof in the fire, but the main body of the building was salvaged. Charles Kimball of Portland designed this Italianate structure. Heavy brick ornamentation can be seen in the bracketed cornice and comer quoins. The ell on the south side is a modem addition, built by Freeman Vamey. The building is on Water Street and is now owned by the Fleet Bank. AFN, JCB
From Eastport Walking Tour Brochure, 2010:
30) Frontier National Bank (NR) 30 Water St. The history of the Frontier Bank goes back to 1836 when it was at the foot of Washington street and was considered a state bank. In 1882 the Frontier National Bank built its brick building at the corner of Dana and Water Streets. Although the exterior survived the 1886 fire, the roof and interior were destroyed.
EXCERPTS FROM THE SENTINEL NEWSPAPER:
July 12, 1882: The Frontier National Bank:m.tends to soon build a brick building with tree stone and granite trimmings upon the Passamaquoddy Hotel Lot. The building will cost about $5000. Mr. Charles H. Kimball of Portland is the architect.
October 11, 1882: All the long-delayed material for the new Frontier Bank building having arrived, work is now progressing finely, and the outside walls, with the exception of the front, will probably be finished tomorrow. The building is to be of brick with tree stone trimmings, one story, and when finished will be one of the handsomest little buildings to be found anywhere in the vicinity. From a hasty glance at the plans one day recently, we noticed that the front of the building was to be particularly fine. There will be two windows and a door in front with very heavy and handsome trimmings. Over the door will be the name "Frontier National Bank" and the figures "1882" in stone. The two young men from Portland, Messrs. Redland and Kimball who are erecting the building seem to thoroughly understand the act of bricklaying, They have the entire charge of the building and do their own work. Mr. Joseph Andrews has taken the contract for finishing the inside of the building which will be done in cherry.
December l3, 1882: The outside of the new Frontier National Bank is about finished. The inside is now being plastered.
June 6, 1883: The Frontier National Bank is now occupying its new building and the Cashier and Assistant are happier and more obligin g than ever in their comfortable and cosy quarters. The inside of the building is handsomely finished in cherry, which with the tastefully tinted walls and colored glass windows and doors produces a pleasing effect. The interior woodwork placed in by E.E. Newcomb and the painting and fitting by Messrs. Harrington and Campbell are excellent specimens of workmanship.·The floor of the Director's room and entry are composed of squares of different kinds of hardwoods with neat borders surrounding them and are handsome pieces of work. The arrangement s for the convenience of the business of the bank are excellent. A roomy space with tiled floor and well-lighted is afforded for the customers of the bank, while inside of the counter, which ha s a high ornamental wire railing reaching nearly to the ceiling, is the vault and Director's room. One of the Hall's latest improved burglar-proof safes is enclosed in the vault, which is of course fire-proof, making the securities of the bank and those deposited there both fire and burglar proof. There are several steel chests within the safe for the use of private parties. The exterior of the building hs been before described, being composed of brick with heavy granite facings, of a handsome and novel style of architecture, making it ornamental to our town and a building that will outlive us and our children.
