Bank Block
| Company type | Historic commercial building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking (historical) |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Headquarters | Dexter, Maine , United States |
| Products | Banking offices, retail storefronts, Masonic lodge (historical) |
The Bank Block stands as a significant historic commercial edifice located at 15 Main Street in Dexter, Maine. Originally constructed in 1876 to accommodate two local banking institutions, it underwent the addition of a fourth floor in 1896. This building showcases a blend of Italianate and Romanesque architectural styles, the work of Bangor architect George W. Orff. In 1999, it earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Description and history
Situated within Dexter’s primary commercial area on Main Street (Maine State Route 23), the Bank Block is a four-story masonry building. Its upper levels are composed of brick, while the ground floor features retail storefronts incorporating glass, granite, and metal elements. The first floor is divided into seven bays framed by iron and stone pilasters; entrances are recessed within panels located in the leftmost and central bays, with the remaining bays housing large glass display windows. These pilasters support a granite lintel above which the brick upper stories rise. The upper three floors span five bays in width, accentuated by brick quoining at the corners and around the central bay. Windows on the second and third floors are set within segmented-arch openings, adorned with Italianate-style brick hoods and stone sills supported by brackets. A brick stringcourse separates the fourth floor, which includes sets of three round-arch Romanesque windows in the outer bays and a single round-arched window in the center. The roofline is finished with a cornice featuring corbelled brickwork.
The building was developed through a partnership between Dexter Savings Bank (founded in 1867) and First National Bank (established in 1875). Its ground level was designated for retail operations, while bank offices occupied the second floor; the upper stories were utilized by the local Masonic lodge. Initially, the top floor was capped with a mansard roof featuring gabled dormers characteristic of Second Empire style. Following a fire that destroyed the Masonic facilities in early 1896, local contractor Henry Dexter undertook reconstruction and redesign of the upper section. Banking activities continued within this structure until the mid-1990s.