Paris Hill Historic District
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Paris Hill Historic District | |
 Paris Hill Baptist Church | |
   | |
| Location | Main St. and Hannibal Hamlin Dr. E to Mt. Mica and Christian Ridge Rds., Paris Hill, Maine |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°15′40″N 70°29′53″W / 44.26118°N 70.49799°W |
| Area | 250 acres (100 ha) |
| Built | 1789 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000243[1] |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
The Paris Hill Historic District encompasses the historic 19th century village of Paris Hill in Paris, Maine. This village was the primary civic seat in the town, which is also the county seat of Oxford County, and was where county facilities were located until they were moved to South Paris in 1895. The district includes a collection of well-preserved residential, civic, and religious structures dating roughly from 1800 to 1860, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]
The village of Paris Hill occupies the top of Paris Hill, which at 831 feet (253 m) above sea level provides commanding views of the White Mountains to the west. The main road through the district is Paris Hill Road, and its central point is the former county common, which is roughly circumscribed by Hannibal Hamlin Drive. The village extends for a short way along Lincoln and Tremont Streets; the total area of the district is about 250 acres (100 ha).[2]
Most of the houses built in the district were built between 1800 and 1860, with almost none coming after the relocation of the county facilities in 1895. The oldest house, the Lemuel Jackson, Jr. House, was built in 1789. Most of the buildings are either Federal or Greek Revival in their styling, although there are a fair number of Italianate houses, as well as one mansard-roofed Second Empire house. Only one commercial building has survived on the hill: it was built c. 1808 by Simeon Cummings, and converted to a residence by his son.[2]
The buildings formerly associated with county functions have been well preserved. Arrayed around the common on Hannibal Hamlin Drive, these include a courthouse, brick office building, and stone jail, the latter now repurposed to house a library. Also on the common is the Baptist Church, a Greek Revival structure built in 1838.[2]
