Augusta, Maine State House
Address: 230
State Street, Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: (207)
287-5600
Hallowell Granite exterior
|
Number 24—Augusta, ME
Email/website:
Senate: 35
House/General Assembly: 151
Both houses “term out.”
Two years later can run again, but no seniority is given
Date Complete: 1832, addition 1910 (other renovations 1852,
1869, 1890, 1998)
Getting there: Fairly
easy, Maine Turnpike
Parking: Free (two
hour limit) and easy.
Liberty Bell:
(Each state and most territories have been gifted at least
one replica of the liberty bell. Each
bell is numbered. Missouri has two—one
of which is located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO,
given by the city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence. My guess would be that this choice was made
as Truman was President at the time of the gifting. The second one was given to the State of
Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).
The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the
Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and
territories to thank the United States for its part in France’s
liberation. They were funded by a
savings bond drive.
In some states, the replica bells are located outside on the
grounds of the capitol; some states have located them in other prestigious
places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a
clue where it is.)
Maine (#40) has placed its bell on a knoll between the
Capitol Building and the State Office Buildings—a nice setting.
Cornerstone: Could
not find it, but did read later that it is somewhere near or behind step five
or seven. The building’s cornerstone was laid on the 4th of July, 1829, amid
impressive Masonic ceremonies.
Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper:
Lady of Wisdom (121/2 feet tall, copper and gold leaf)
Art: Oil portraits of
Governors and other Statesmen and women.
In a prominent position is a full length (almost life size) portrait of
Margaret Chase Smith…first woman to be elected to both the House of
Representatives and US Senate. A handful
of bonzes including Lincoln and Henry Knox.
In the center of the Rotunda is a bronze bust of Governor Baxter (see
more information below).
Tours: Guided or self-guided
tours. We used the guided tour...the
first time we have availed ourselves of this perk in a very long time. Another couple and their two extremely
intelligent youngsters were the only other folks on our tour.
Quarter:
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse; the schooner Victory Chimes at sea
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse; the schooner Victory Chimes at sea
Entered Union: Number
23 (March 15, 1820)
What’s unique:
1.
Like many other New England and other early
colonies, the Capitol building is called the State House.
2.
Fairly small in size. Very “New England.” Windows are all clear (no stained glass
anywhere). Very utilitarian. Very Charles Bulfinch.
3.
Governors for many years were elected for only
two years. Oil portraits are arranged in
order of serving with the current governor in a prominent place. Eventually, the governor’s picture will go
into storage after he/she continues through the entire rotation.
4.
Legislature is “part time.” First session meets January thru June; second
session meets January thru April. Most
Legislators have other jobs.
5.
Only the central section is original. Walls were knocked out to make
additions. Floor in original is tiny
Italian marble tile. The wings have
Vermont marble floors and Vermont black limestone as decorative edging. It is
said that there are various fossils imbedded in the limestone, but I did not
see any as I read about this later in a neat little pamphlet called “Maine
State House Fossil Hunt” and our guide did not mention it.
6.
The House has a rather unique system for
communicating. Each desk is
numbered. Representatives are only
allowed to their seat mates on either side of them. If they want to communicate with any other
member of the house, they write a note which includes both his/her desk number
and the number of the desk in which the person with whom the communication will
take place. A button is touched. A board in the front of the house lights and
a page goes to the writer of the note.
Communication is outside the doors of the Chamber, so they get up and go
there. The four-year old who was on our
tour asked lots of questions…some of which I knew the answer, some of which I
would never have thought to ask; and some, I might have felt too stupid by asking. He was a great experience. Learned a lot from his quest of learning.
7.
The State Library is housed in the Capitol
Building and open to the public (some Capitols restrict usage). Bronzes of full
length (not full-size) Lincoln and Henry Know adorn windows. Knox is in his fitter younger days.
8.
The Senate has special wall of oil portraits which include:
a.
Lincoln’s
first Vice President Hannabel Hamlin, Maine Governor;
b.
Joshua L. (“Don’t call me Lawrence”) Chamberlain of Civil
War fame as an “older” man when he was Governor. He was chosen to receive the surrender of arms from fellow Masonic brother John B. Gordon. His controversial "Present arms" salute to the Confederate soldiers is believed to have started a healing process for the Country;
c.
Henry Knox, a quiet bookshop owner and native of
Boston. Maine claimed him as a resident
after the American Revolution. Knox was
Washington’s Chief of Artillery and later his Secretary of War. He and his men captured the cannon at Fort
Ticonderoga in New York. With the help
of oxen teams dragged the cannon from New York to Boston, surprising the
British as it was placed on hills overlooking the city during a night. Sixty
cannon and other armaments, 300 miles during the winter presented a challenge
through paths and forests. A large part
of the “trail” used by Knox and his men follows (generally speaking) the
Massachusetts/Connecticut border and cuts through the “Hill” towns of Otis
(where the Knox Trail Inn still exists) and probably Granville, Southwick, etc. Both Fort Knox and Knoxville, TN were named
after him. An active Mason, a Lodge was
constituted in his name on “Old Ironsides.”
9.
The hall
of flags is full of reproduction flags of various regiments of Maine during
many wars. The original are housed at
the museum and are displayed periodically.
10.
The guide allows children to sit in the Speakers
seat and hold his/her gavel (which is huge).
11.
Maine does not have a Lieutenant Governor. The President of the Senate is next in line.
12.
Governor Baxter, one of the most beloved of
Governors, became governor upon the death of his processor and then was elected
again. Baxter bought over 200,000 acres
with his own funds and donated the land to the State of Maine as a wilderness
to be preserved (Baxter State Park in approximate central Maine).
13.
The motto, “Dirigo” translates to I direct or I
lead.
August 2012
( more pictures later)
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