Rangeley Trust Company Building
| Company type | Financial institution (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Harry Furbish |
| Defunct | 1922 |
| Fate | Relocated to larger facility; original building repurposed |
| Headquarters | Rangeley , United States |
Key people | Harry Furbish (founder) |
| Products | Banking services (historical) |
The Rangeley Trust Company Building is a notable former financial institution located at 60 Main Street, Rangeley, Maine, currently serving as the home of the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society Museum. Constructed between 1905 and 1906 and designed by architect William R. Miller, this structure holds the distinction of being Rangeley's inaugural brick commercial edifice as well as its first banking facility. It functioned as the municipal town hall from 1922 until 1979 and was subsequently added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Description and history
Situated on the western side of Main Street (Maine State Route 4) within Rangeley village, this modest, single-story brick building exemplifies Classical Revival architecture, featuring a flat roof set upon a concrete foundation. The main entrance is centrally positioned beneath a dentillated pediment and is bordered by large plate glass windows with transoms, all framed by brick pilasters. The front facade is accentuated by an expansive entablature, a wooden cornice, and a low brick parapet. Internally, the former banking hall includes tongue-and-groove wainscoting; toward the rear are located a vault, the bank president’s office, and stairs descending to a basement that contains a compact metal jail cell situated beneath the vault.
Although Rangeley was founded in 1860, its growth accelerated in the late 1800s due to outdoor recreational tourism centered around nearby Rangeley Lake. The Rangeley Trust Company was established in 1905 by Harry Furbish, a local businessman engaged in lumber and insurance industries, aiming to support economic growth in the area. Furbish enlisted Lewiston-based architect William R. Miller to create the Classical Revival style bank building, which commenced operations in 1906. Furbish managed his enterprises from this location until 1922 when the bank moved to a larger facility. Subsequently, the building was repurposed as the town hall, during which period the basement jail cell was installed. In 1979, ownership passed to the local historical society, which currently utilizes it as their headquarters and museum.
See also
References
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine
- Neoclassical architecture in Maine
- Buildings and structures completed in 1905
- Buildings and structures in Franklin County, Maine
- Town halls in Maine
- National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County, Maine
- 1905 establishments in Maine