ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JAIL

On March 18, 1854 , the Maine Legislature passed an act taking parts of Cumberland, Oxford, Kennebec, and Lincoln Counties to form a new county to be known as Androscoggin. The area included the then existing towns of Auburn, Danville,Durham,Poland,Minot, East Livermore, Livermore, Leeds, Greene, Wales,Lewiston and Lisbon. The original sponsor of the bill intended Lewiston to be designated as the county seat. The controversy over the establishment of Androscoggin County was stormy, with much debate over the location of the shire town. The choice came down to Lewiston and Auburn and due to the fact that majority of the communities in the new county were on the west or Auburn side of the Androscoggin river Auburn was elected in 1854. Charles Clark the son-in-law of Edward Little was the counties first sheriff. The Androscoggin Court House was built in 1857, not long after the state legislature designated Androscoggin County, named for the river that dominates it. The job to build the $100,000 structure went to J.F.Gridley out of Boston. The distinction of being selected as the county seat did much to urge the Town of Auburn toward city hood. Its pride and ambition heightened when the new Court House with attendant building was finished. It was a beautiful structure, on a side hill overlooking the busiest section of the growing community. The local government wishing to show appreciation for its new building and added prestige decided to change all of the street names in the downtown area. The old Maine street was changed to Court street, and the old River Street became the new Main Street. In 1882 a Civil War monument was dedicated in an impressive ceremony that hosted over 10,000 people on the grounds of the courthouse to honor the local men who had served in the war. The day was called Decoration Day and at the foot of the monument were placed three bronze tablets that bear the names of the men from Auburn and Danville who gave their lives in the war. Along with the county court the impressive building also is home to the county jail and the probate offices. It also houses the Androscoggin Historical Society Museum. Located on the third floor, the museum houses extensive artifacts, pictures, and written material on the history of Androscoggin County.