The Webster Grammar School is an historic former school building at 95 Hampshire Street in

Auburn, Maine Auburn is a city in south-central Maine within the United States. The city serves as the county seat of Androscoggin County. The population was 24,061 at the 2020 census. Auburn and its sister city Lewiston are known locally as the Twin Citi ...

. Built in 1915-16 to a design by

Harry S. Coombs Harry S. Coombs (1878-1939)''Bowdoin Alumnus'' June 1939: 140. was an American architect practicing in Lewiston, Maine. He was the son of and successor to architect George M. Coombs. Biography Harry Coombs was born in 1878 to George M. ...

, it was one of the first

junior high school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school ...

buildings in

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian province ...

, and is a fine local example of Colonial Revival architecture. The building is now apartments and a community center, and was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...

in September 2010.

Description and history

The Webster Grammar School stands in a residential area northwest of downtown Auburn, on a lot bounded by Hampshire, Willow, and Webster Streets. It is a U-shaped two-story brick building, with a flat roof and Colonial Revival features. Its original main entrance faces southwest toward Hampshire Street, and is distinguished by a projecting section with four two-story engaged Doric columns. The bays between the columns have keystoned rounded-arch openings, with the center one housing the recessed entrance.Ives, Amy Cole, and Smith, Melanie (2010). NRHP nomination for Webster Grammar School; available by requested from the Maine State Historic Preservation Commission A modern entrance has been built at the center of the U, which is on what was the rear (Webster Street) facade. The school's first building (45 Spring Street) was built in 1874, and designed by Fassett & Stevens of Lewiston. It was a simple High Victorian Gothic building, since demolished. The present building was built in 1915 to a design by

,''American Contractor'' 1 May 1915: 75. a distant successor to Fassett & Stevens. The concept of a

was introduced in the early 20th century, and the state of Maine introduced more rigorous curriculum requirements in the decade before this school was built. The school provided facilities for a more practical and hands-on education, particularly directed at students who were likely to leave school after the eighth grade. It served as a junior high school until 1981, when it was converted to serve grades 4-6. It was closed in 2006, and has been converted into housing and a community center.

Notable alumni

Charles B. Carter Charles Blanchard "Babe" Carter (May 10, 1880 – April 6, 1927) was an American football player, lawyer and politician. He was the starting right guard on the University of Michigan's 1902 and 1904 "Point-a-Minute" football teams that compi ...

(1880-1927), professional football player and member of the

Maine Senate The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constituti ...

References

{{reflist School buildings completed in 1874 Buildings and structures in Auburn, Maine School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine National Register of Historic Places in Androscoggin County, Maine Schools in Lewiston–Auburn, Maine

Description and history

Notable alumni

See also

References