POLAND SPRING PART 2
FOR PART ONE GO HERE -----> https://www.tumbleweedstripod.com/post/poland-springs-resort
It was 1893. Does anyone know the significance?
It was the Chicago Worlds Fair and Maine had a building constructed from all Maine materials showcased at the World’s Exhibit. A man named Charles Sumner Frost was the architect behind this eye catching beauty. Frost was originally from Lewiston, Maine but moved to Chicago where he made quite a name for himself as an architect. Once the building was finished and entered into the fair as the state’s entry, it was filled with books and art, all from Maine authors and artists. It also displayed many other Maine made products.
The Maine Building for the World Exhibit caught the Rickers’ eye as well and while Hiram (Dub-Yah) Ricker was at the fair marketing, selling and winning awards for their bottled water, they decided to buy it. In order to get it from Chicago to Maine they had to take the whole thing apart and hire 16 freight cars to have it transported. The price tag on this historical building was $30,000 and cost him over $3000 to have it transported to Maine. Once the train pulled into the station, a team of oxen hauled it the rest of the way. I think the most amazing part of this whole thing, is this was accomplished without one scratch branding the building. It ended up at Poland Springs safe and sound and the utmost care was taken reassembling it.
The Maine Exhibit Building served as a library on the first floor while the second floor was converted into four different bedrooms with private baths. This creative family even added a third floor to the building WITHOUT ADDING ANY HEIGHT TO THE STRUCTURE ITSELF! ‘How did they do this?’ you are likely asking yourself. Well, I’m no architect but if I had to guess I would say that Hiram probably took a fire hose, connected it to the magical spring and sprayed miracle water on it. POOF. Magic. But what do I know?
The newly found third floor was used as an art gallery directed by Hiram’s daughter Janette, AKA ‘Miss. Nettie.’ She was in charge of the popular art exhibits during the summer. How exciting it must have been for her to be able to educate and show off priceless art to tourists from all walks of life. Every year Hiram would approve of Janette traveling the world in search of new and fascinating art to add to the gallery with a $1000 budget.
I was just excited that her name was Janette, actually. What’s more, I saw a portrait of her and I could have sworn it was a portrait of my paternal grandmother in her younger years. No kidding.
Eventually, the books and pieces of art that had a hand in making this building even more amazing then it already was, had to be stored away. This was partly due to The Ricker family’s empire slowly crumbling shortly after the last of the Ricker brothers passed away. I’m sure it didn’t help that The Great Depression was also in full swing. Of course, no one would have the means to buy bottled water or take a holiday. Thirty years later, the property was rented out to the Job Corps, and at this time many historical artifacts and art was sold or auctioned off. A few of the original items slowly turned back up and were either donated or sold back to Poland Springs.
The building is now a museum of sorts. Each room has its own theme where you can learn more about its’ time at the World’s Fair, or feast your eyes on some of the Rickers’ original clothing, personal items, books, bibles etc. There is also a gift shop and an art gallery continues to take up residence on the third floor. They are always looking for fantastic art pieces as well, so if you are an artist, you may be interested in reaching out.
Speaking of the 1893 Worlds Fair….do you know who else was a frequent flyer? The first documented serial killer in the United States, H. H. Holmes. What are the odds that this man, whose Murder Hotel rested on the corner of the Worlds Fair in Chicago, strolled thru this building occasionally, hunting for his next victim? It is a well known fact that Holmes attended the fair with at least two of his eventual victims. Quite a few young ladies traveled to Chicago to attend the Fair, never to return. How many do you suppose were scooped up right from this very building?
The Maine Building is also one of four buildings left over from the Chicago’s World Fair-out of the 200 that were originally built for the occasion. This was due to a fire that swept across the site of the fair one year after the celebrations had ended. How lucky are we to have one right here in the state of Maine?
The building is, in a nutshell, three tiers of octagons, with each room dedicated to the history of Maine, Poland Springs and the Ricker family. And the ceiling is magnificent to say the least.
As I was strolling through the building by myself with the gift shop attendant on the first floor being the only other person around, I was on the second floor and came to a replica of the original Poland Spring Inn. I heard a lady say, “It’s nice” Just as I was about to take a picture. It was barely audible so I highly doubt it was the lady in the gift shop. It jumped me so bad since I didn’t expect anyone else to be around, that the first attempt to take a picture came out damned near sideways. The third floor I kept seeing someone go in and out of the other rooms but I never actually ran into anyone. Who knows, Maybe Miss. Nettie is still admiring her art collection, making sure everything is just so.
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