Page 52 - Fall 2025

HOULTON – History’s Hiding Place, continued...
Grand Army of the Republic parade through Market
Square during the latter half of the 1880’s. Visible in
the photo is the grand Snell House, Lovejoy’s Tin Shop,
Kinney and Watson, Holland’s Book Store, and many
other Houlton businesses from the late 19th century.
Newly constructed Aroostook County jail and jailers’
residence. Built in 1889 for a total of $30,000 and made
entirely of the “Red Houlton bricks” which were made
on the Isaac Barker farm on North Street, near where
Walmart and the Shiretown Motor Inn are sitting today.
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Baseball game between Houlton and Portland at North
Street (Maple Grove) park. Dr Miles Cochran was the
umpire, and the Houlton team is playing the field.
The North Street Park would have sat directly across
from what is now the intersection of North Street and
Washburn Street in the area where Bowdoin Street runs
from Putnam Ave to Maple Street.
Here we see a photo of the original Frisbie Block which
was built in 1894 on the South side of Market Square. It
was originally home to the dry goods store owned by
Hudson Frisbie and would eventually be sold to George
W. Richards for the same purpose. Like many of the brick
buildings we see in Houlton, it was designed by architect
Wilfred Mansur of Bangor and in 1905, seven more bays
were added to the structure to bring the total to twelve
bays. Over the years it has house several iconic Houlton
businesses that many remember including Western Auto,
York’s Book Store, Boston Shoe Store, Logie’s Men’s Store,
and many more.
www.houltonalumni.com