Lewiston/Auburn Historical Walking Touring

The cities of Lewiston and Auburn have a rich history dominated by the Androscoggin River and the power it generates.

The development of water power from the Androscoggin began with the formation of the Great Androscoggin Falls Dam, Locks and Canal Company in 1839. In 1845, its reorganization as the Lewiston Water Power Company was for the purpose of generating power by waterfalls for general manufacturing, chiefly textile, cotton, and wool. Numerous local families, including the Littles, the Fryes, and the Garcelons, all played essential roles in developing the river's power for industrial purposes.

The influx of immigrant populations also dramatically influenced the area's development.  The first wave of immigrants, the Irish, arrived in the 1850s, fleeing the potato famine. By far, however, the most significant immigrant population was the French-Canadians in the late 1860s. By 1873, 2,700 French-speaking residents lived in Lewiston, and more were arriving at a rate of 100-150 a day! Although predominately French-Canadian, the area was inhabited by Italian, Greek, Lithuanian, Russian, English, and Scottish families at the turn of the century.

During the 19th century, through the efforts of local businessmen, Lewiston emerged as a textile manufacturing center. The arrival of Benjamin Bates, coinciding with the arrival of the railroad, ensured the completion of the city's canal system and the power it would generate.

Auburn's shoe industry grew steadily from the time of the Civil War. Those familiar with local history will recognize the industry's owners; Cushman, Hollis, Roak, Dingley, Lunn, Sweet, Packard, Foss, Gross, Barker, and Fitz, many of whom are name sakes for buildings and other sites in the area today.

Lewiston and Auburn's common roots are inextricably entwined with the Androscoggin River and the industrial base it spawned. This historical walking tour will lead you through a history and heritage that are based on the determination, labor, and imagination of two cities and the people who built them.

Section I

Horace Munroe House(1899)	This house stands as a monument to the city's shoe industry and its developer, Noble Monroe. Noble was at the forefront of Auburn's growth as co-owner of the one of the city's first shoe plants. After he died in 1886, his widow constructed this home in the Queen Anne tradition. Remarkably, the house has maintained its original magnificence, replete with most of the Monroe family fixtures and decorative woodwork.
Packard Shoe Factory(1864)	Packard Shoe Factory is the first brick factory in Auburn. Built to manufacture shoes by E.F. Packard, it was relocated here after the original factory on Main Street was destroyed by the 1853 Phoenix fire. After major reconstruction, it is now the Heritage Court, Inc., a residential block.
Engine House(1879)	It served as Auburn's central fire station from the days of horse-drawn pumpers to the late 1960s. With its bell tower designed in the stick style, it is one of the last remaining firehouses of the 19th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Auburn Public Library (1904)	Across the street is the Auburn Public Library. Made possible by a grant from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, the library was renovated in 1956 and again in 1976, retaining its original dramatic architecture. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library boasts a circulation of more than 250,000 volumes, the highest circulation per capita for any library in Maine.
Auburn City Building (1874)	Behind the library on Spring Street is the municipal building that houses Auburn city government offices. You can't see the building from Court Street. But, if you cross Court and walk along Spring Street a few feet, the building will come into view. Originally built as Webster Grammar School in 1874, it was taken over by the city in 1920. A fire in 1959 destroyed the top floor and the Victorian bell tower. Renovations at that time and again in 1979 give the building a modern look.
Court Street Baptist Church (1870)	This beautiful brick and brownstone building which stands next to the Androscoggin County building was built to replace the Spring Street Baptist Church.
Androscoggin County Courthouse (1857)	It was built in 1857, not long after the state legislature designated Androscoggin County, named for the river that dominates it. The controversy over the establishment of Androscoggin County was stormy, with much debate over the location of the shire town. Auburn was elected in 1854, with the court house subsequently standing as its symbol of victory. 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.
YMCA(1922)	The original structure was a four-story brick building that included bowling lanes, a lobby, gymnasium, swimming pool, several club rooms, an exercise room, offices, kitchen, and 40 single dormitory rooms. Although apparently sufficient when built, an addition was soon needed. In 1927, the "Y" celebrated 75 years of continuous operation in this location.
West Pitch Park(1988)	Central Maine Power provided money to develop this little park, owned by the city, in celebration of the restoration of power generation at Great Falls. It provides a beautiful scenic view of the river and the falls.
Knight House(1796)	The small, red house is the oldest wooden frame house in the City of Auburn. It was built by Caleb Lincoln and purchased in 1861 by Nathaniel Knight, a local butcher, who moved his family and business there.
One Room Shoe Shop(1790)	The small wood structure located next to the historic Knight House is a shoe shop. One room sufficed when shoes were a cottage industry limited to boots and brogans and when leather was hand-pounded.
Androscoggin River	Androscoggin, an Indian word, is known to have several meanings, including "the turbid foaming crooked snake," and "fish coming from the spring," and "the presence of migratory fish (i.e., alewife, salmon, shad and bass)." The Great Falls of this river made this site the ideal location for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. The tremendous water power created by the falls was channeled through canals to power the textile mills that were built along the river. In the Flood of 1987, the Androscoggin river crested just inches below the Longley Bridge before receding.
James B. Longley Bridge(1982)	This bridge was named for Maine's first independent Governor (1974-1978), a Lewiston native.
Lewiston Pumping Station(1877)	This site with power rights was purchased by the City of Lewiston from the Franklin Company, the early Benjamin Bates company which developed Lewiston's canal system . The city has used the facility to provide a reliable water system for domestic household use and for fire protection. Potable water now comes from Lake Auburn.
Cowan and Libbey Mills(1845)	At sites along the river bank, the Cowan, originally a woolen mill, and the Libbey, a cotton mill, were the first textile mills in the area to take advantage of the river's water power even before the canal was completed. Incorporated in 1845 as the Lewiston Falls Cotton Mill and long known as the Lincoln Mill, they are the city's old surviving example of Greek Revival architecture. By 1846, the looms had started and the mills produced cotton goods for 40 years. The construction of these mills marks the beginning of a period of rapid growth for Lewiston. Although vacant now, the bell tower is original and provides the motif for Lewiston's city seal.
Gateway Building(1853)	Originally this site was the location of the First Baptist Church, which burned in 1978. A Masonic hall with commercial facilities on the first floor was built in its place.
Peck's Building(1898)	Once home of the largest department store east of Boston, B. Peck Co. closed more than a decade ago. It was, in its heyday, so elegant that even the pipes for the pneumatic tube cash carrier system were decorated. Rising five stories from Main Street, the shopping facility came to be known as "The Great Department Store." In the 50s and 60s, the arrival of Santa at Peck's heralded the start of the Christmas season. Since 1988, the building has been home to one of three Maine L.L. Bean telephone order centers.
United Baptist Church(1922)	The church was created due to growth in the community along with the decision to merge three of the Baptist churches. Outgrowing this accommodation as well, the current English Gothic yellow brick structure was completed in 1922. Prior to 1850, this site was home to a country school. The path through the woods made by Indians and later used by pupils going to and from school became what is now Bates Street.
St. Joseph's Church(1867)	The site for the church was obtained through a bit of trickery. Albert Kelsey, the agent for the Boston capitalists that owned the mills, tried to get the Directors to donate the site. They staunchly refused and humiliated Father Peter McLaughlin, the priest from a burned Irish Chapel in Lincoln Street, when he tried to negotiate with them. Kelsey, more broad-minded than his fellow directors, selected one of the most desirable sites in the city and sold it to the Roman Catholics for a fraction of its real value. He unobtrusively slipped the deed among a large number of official papers that the Boston directors routinely signed. Construction of St. Joseph's began in 1864. Late Gothic Revival in architecture, German influence is noticeable in the Munich-made stained glass windows. This is the city's oldest Catholic Church.
Kora Shriners' Temple(1908)	This Moorish-style building surpasses all others in Lewiston. Crowned by two Eastern-style verdigris domes and lined with banks of exquisitely-carved windows across the brick facade, the central door even is topped by a Saracen head with beard and burnoose! Inside, beautiful murals decorate the banquet hall. Originally commissioned by Masons, the Shriners now use the building for meetings and social events. The Kora Shriners' Temple is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Central Maine Medical Center(1888)	This is a regional health care referral center that serves the regions of central and western Maine. CMMC was originally incorporated as Central Maine General Hospital (CMGH). There was no hospital facility, however, until 1891 when Dr. Edward H. Hill convinced the hospital's Board of Directors that this site was an ideal location. The then 30-bed hospital admitted its first patient on July 1, 1891. Reflecting the increase in the variety and quality of health care services it provides, CMGH, in 1975, became Central Maine Medical Center. CMMC and its subsidiaries offer a broad range of services, including emergency services, a comprehensive cancer care program, a physical rehabilitation unit, a critical care unit, a neonatal intermediate care unit, and a family practice residency program. CMMC has a host of high-technology equipment that provides physicians with state-of-the-art tools for fighting disease and disability.
Webber House(1843)	This salmon-painted and yellow-trimmed house is a mix of architectural additions. Originally built in Greek Revival style, it was radically altered into a Second Empire style house with mansard roof and classic porches. The bay windows were also added later. Dr. George Webber, one of the founders of CMMC, bought the house in 1905. It now serves as doctors' offices.
L.L. Blake House(1880)	This is one of Lewiston's most outstanding examples of Queen Anne style architecture. Adorned with a circular corner turret, the building sits like Queen Anne herself in brick splendor. Originally the home of L.L. Blake, a furniture dealer, it was the convent of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Joseph's parish for most of the 20th century. It now houses offices of CMMC.
Drew Holland Homestead(1854)	The Drew Holland House, now converted to offices is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a splendid brick Italianate home with an opulent Victorian interior. The Civil War veteran and attorney, Franklin M. Drew, lived there from 1878-1925 during which time he served as probate judge and historian and treasurer of Bates College.
	Wallace School(1886) This strong brick edifice with tower looks much as it did when it was built in 1886. Named for Mons. Thomas H. Wallace, who served on Lewiston's School Board for 29 years and led the building effort of St. Patrick's Church on Bates Street. The building is still used as a school.
Bauer Apartments(1887)	Across from Wallace School is Lewiston's best example of a Victorian apartment building, the Bauer Apartments. Intricate and imaginative, this apartment house design has no modern local rival.
Wallace White House(1907)	Just north of Bauer Apartments, is a Colonial Revival house featuring a high portico with Ionic columns. It was built by Wallace H. White, who married Senator Frye's daughter. Their son, Senator Wallace White, also lived here.
Sen. Frye House(1872)	This was the home of Senator William Frye. Lewiston's foremost public figure, he served as mayor, Attorney General, congressman, and finally, U.S. Senator. He spent 30 years in the Senate, twice serving as acting-Vice President of the United States and was appointed by President McKinley as a peace negotiator at the close of the Spanish-American war. His home was placed on the National Register in 1976. Although the house, now an apartment building, is dilapidated, its outstanding features are still apparent and its past owner makes it more significant to Lewiston's history than any other private home in the city.
10 Frye Street(1873)	This is one of Lewiston's most delightful examples of eclectic Victorian architecture. Brick with peaked gables, Italianate features, the original etched glass panels, a mansard roof and a large cupula-topped barn; this house was built by Hearcy Day and owned by several mill agents.
No Picture At This Time	Gray House(1875) On the north corner of Main and Frye Streets, across from the Frye House, is another Queen Anne style brick house; the Gray House. The main house with its a high turret connects to a three-bay stable. Built for Lewiston mayor Joseph H. Day, a later well-known occupant was William Gray, the cinema magnate. Converted to offices, it has been carefully preserved.
J.D. Clifford House(1901)	Across the street from the Gray House, is the J.D. Clifford House. Basically Queen Anne in style, there is also some 18th century Georgian architecture visible in the hip roof and Palladian window. The carved oak stairway inside is much admired. Built for a prominent Lewiston contractor, John D. Clifford, it is now an office building.
Section II
J.C. Lord House(1882)	On the rise of David's Mountain is the 1882 mansion of J.C. Lord, a successful local grocer. Its eclectic Victorian style combines a roof with a peaked Gothic gable resembling those in the Second Empire. This house is also on the National Register.
Farnham House(1900)	Currently a Bed & Breakfast, the Farnham House is an excellent example of Victorian architecture. Prominent people who stayed there include the late Senator Edmund Muskie, Jesse Jackson, and cello maestro Mstislov Rostropovich.
Bates College(1855)	Bates College is one of atriumvirate of highly regarded private colleges in Maine (Bates,Bowdoin, and Colby). It is a liberal arts and sciences college and was the first co-educational college in the East (the second in the U.S.). Through the efforts of a young Free Baptist minister, Reverend Orin B. Cheney, Bates College was originally chartered as the Maine State Seminary. Cheney, father of the college in all but name, worked to amend the seminary's charter to create its collegiate status. Benjamin Bates's large endowment, however, prompted the Maine Legislature to name the new college after him. Hathorn Hall, the school's first building, is considered the most outstanding on campus and was the first Lewiston building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was named for Seth and May Hathorn of Woolwich, whose $5,000 bequest largely paid for the original building.
Olin Arts Center(1986)	In 1984, Bates College received a grant from the F.W. Olin Foundation to construct and fully equip a new arts center. Completed in 1986, this facility is one of the area's premier arts centers, housing not only the 3,800 square foot exhibition Museum, but facilities for storage, packing, and installation preparation, studio facilities, and rehearsal studios for musicians.
Hathorn Hall(1856)	The school's first building is considered the most outstanding on campus and was the first Lewiston building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was named for Seth and May Hathorn of Woolwich whose $5,000 bequest largely paid for the original building.
Bates College Chapel(1913)	The College Chapel is modeled after the King's College Chapel at Cambridge University in England and seats 600. In addition to religious services, the Chapel is used for concerts, lectures, and debates, many of which are open to the public without charge. The Chapel is also reserved for weddings.
Cheney House, Bates College(1875)	The most prominent of the private houses acquired by Bates is Cheney House. This house was built for Oren B. Cheney, the first president of the College. It is now used as student housing.
Coram Library(1902)	The gift of Joseph Arthur Coram of Lowell, MA, this neoclassical style building served as the college library until 1971 when it had become too small and another larger, modern library, Ladd Library, was constructed just behind it.
Muskie Archives(1985)	A Bates graduate, Senator Edmund Muskie is honored by the college. He graduated from Bates College in 1936 and Cornell University Law School in 1939. Muskie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific during World War II. He was elected Governor of Maine in 1954 and U.S. Senator in 1958. In 1968 he was the Democratic nominee for Vice President. He also served as the fifty-eighth Secretary of State, during the Carter administration. Senator Muskie died in 1996.
Maison Marcotte and d'Youville Pavilion(1926)	Huge elderly housing and nursing care facilities.
St. Mary's Hospital(1888)	This is a special legacy from the "Grey Nuns," a branch of the Sisters of Charity who came to Lewiston from Quebec. The nuns constructed a 30-bed hospital which quickly grew and was replaced with a new, larger building in 1900. The octagonal Gothic towers are dramatic. Today, a bustling institution of 250-beds with two modern wings and further additions makes St. Mary's one of two health centers giving the people of central Maine some of the finest medical care in the country.
Frenchville	Tenement housing is the key to noticing that one has entered Frenchvile. This section of Lewiston is known as "Frenchville." When the textile mills were built, thousands of people left their poor farms in Quebec and moved here -- the 10-hour, six-day work week in the mills being a respite from the toil on the farms. With their distinctive language, religion, and customs, the immigrants lived in their own cultural enclaves. Overworked and underpaid, there was a wide gulf between the mill owners and their employees who not only spoke a different language and attended a different church, but lived in a different section of town.
Frye Grammar School(1866)	This massive brick building, named for Senator Frye, was markedly different from the small country school houses of Lewiston's pre Civil War days.
Section III
Saint Peter& Paul's Church (1906-1938)	This majestic church with twin spires and central rose window, reminiscent of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, took 32 years to construct. Mill workers scraped together enough money to build the magnificent church of St. Peter and Paul in which to worship, even during the worst of the Depression. The Church, which dominates the skyline, is a symbol of the Lewiston-Auburn community. It is open for group tours by appointment and holds Roman Catholic services.
	St. Dominic's High School(1941) Originally a clubhouse for the St. Dominic's Association, Rev. Francis Wallace converted the old building and named it for his parents. It served as a parochial school from 1941-1973. The plain brick building is enhanced by a prominent stepped gable.
St. Patrick's Church(1887-1890)	Founded by Rev. Thomas Wallace close to the homes of the Irish settlements in south Lewiston, St. Patrick's was built to accommodate the thousands of immigrants who had outgrown St. Joseph's Church. The Gothic brick and granite structure with 13 stained glass windows is surmounted by two graceful spires of differing heights.
Trinity Episcopal Church(1876)	The Franklin Company gave the Parish the site for this granite Gothic Revival church. Note the red-roofed pyramidal belfry and stained glass windows. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is one of Lewiston's handsomest buildings.
Kennedy Park(1861)	Land for this park was given to the City by the Franklin Company. The park was designed by Albert Kelsey of the Franklin Company who is often called the "Builder of Lewiston." He designed many of the mills, churches, and residential streets of Lewiston.
Bandstand(1881)	Given to the City by the Franklin Company, the Bandstand actually carries the date 1861 on its dome, but this refers to the year that the land for the park was donated. This Victorian structure is a symbol of Lewiston's forefathers' love of outdoor concerts.
Lewiston City Building(1892)	Lewiston's soaring City Building, with its copper-clad dome, faces the park. It is built of brick and granite in the Baroque Revival style, its tower rising 185 feet above the street. On the National Register of Historic Places, the City Building is a focal point of the downtown area.
No Picture At This Time	Lewiston Public Library(1903) Senator William Frye was able to persuade his close friend, Andrew Carnegie, to donate the money to finance Lewiston's public library. This single- story, granite building was constructed in "Beaux Arts" classical style and opened to the public in February 1903.
Lewiston Mills	The mill buildings are the symbols of Lewiston's industrial history. Huge, five- and six-storied, brick mills with Italianate towers and mansard roofs line the length of the canal. The mill immediately facing you as you approach Canal Street is the huge, historic, Bates Mill.
Bates Mill(1852)	Although built by the Boston Consortium, the earliest of the mills constructed in Lewiston was named for Benjamin Bates, as he was the largest stockholder. During the Civil War, the mill manufactured tenting and cotton goods. Within 10 years it had become one of the largest textile producers in New England, manufacturing a variety of products through the years, including parachutes and camouflage during World War II. The first bedspread was woven in 1850. Since then, Bates has become one of the great producers of woven bedspreads in the world.
Bates Mill Complex(1992)	Unused portions of the mill sat vacant until restoration began in 1992. After acquiring the Bates Mill from a tax lien, the City formed the Lewiston Mill Redevelopment Corporation which made nearly $3 million in repairs and renovations and marketed the vacant space. Today the Bates Mill Enterprise Complex is home to more than 25 companies which employ more than 300 people. The complex houses a restaurant, two movie theaters, offices, retail shops, an arts center, and even a batting cage! On the fourth floor of the renovated mill is a photographic art studio. CPACM has more than 40,000 square feet of space dedicated to photography and related arts. With state-of-the-art equipment, the "Center" is one of the largest fully equipped schools in the United States dedicated to bringing professional photographers and students together in one forum.
Hill Mill(1854)	Standing beside the Bates Mill, the Hill Mill, named for Thomas Hill, one of the four original incorporators, also produced cotton goods. The Hill Mill lingered as a division of the Bates Mill until 1971 then it closed its doors. It now houses a variety of small industries.
Upper Canal(1851)	Lewiston's canal system was a formidable engineering project aimed at directing the flow of the river into straight water ways along the mill sites. The 800 foot long, 14 foot deep, 62 foot wide canal was designed fora flow of 4,000 cu.ft./sec. to power the mighty mill wheels. The back breaking digging was done by Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine. Much of the canal was in an area of ledge and was constructed of granite with no mortar. Although the canal water no longer turns the wheels of the mills, without them, Lewiston's great industrial development would never have occurred.
Androscoggin Mill(1854)	This mammoth structure, although incorporated in 1854, no actual construction took place for six years, When it did, it was built in less than 12 months. It began production in 1861 and made it possible for the company to meet the demands for fabric for the Union soldiers. Its stately appearance and well-kept grounds caused one visiting English mill owner to mistake it for a public museum! Today the building is being used by Marden's Surplus & Salvage and Quinco Fabrics, Inc.
Dominican Block(1882)	Built by the Dominican Fathers for use as their first parish school, this building quickly became a social and political center for the French-Canadian community. Now converted to commercial use, it has recently been placed on the National Register for Historic Places.
Continental Mill(1886)	Originally built as the Porter Mill, an 1872 expansion gave it an immense capacity with 554 feet along the Cross Canal. Its detailed construction led one architectural historian to call it "the high point of Victorian industrial architecture." The Continental Mill was famous for its shirts and is now occupied by a number of shoe shops.
Section IV
Grand Trunk Station (1882)	This was the original railroad station of the Grand Trunk of the Canadian National Railroad, through which many of the immigrants to Lewiston and Auburn arrived, and it is sometimes described as the " Ellis Island " of Lewiston.
Little Canada	The apartment buildings of this area of Lewiston are known as "Little Canada." At the turn of century, they were high-rise tenement buildings which were the meticulously kept homes of French Canadian immigrants who could walk to and from the mills and who remained close to the Grand Trunk Railway Station where they arrived.
Railway Trestle(1909)	This train trestle of the Lewiston-Auburn Railroad Company was reconstructed in 1994 as a footbridge between Lewiston and Auburn as an overlook for river watchers.
Rodney Bonney Park	The park was named for an Auburn police patrolman who drowned at this point in the river trying to save two youngsters who had fallen in.
Central School(1874)	The original Edward Little High School, it served the city's high school students until 1961 when a new, larger school was constructed. Today it houses elementary school students as well as the cities' Community Little Theatre.
The Foss House(1915)	One of the most striking mansions in Auburn, this Spanish-influenced Federal revival style house was designed for Horatio G. Foss, a prominent shoe magnate at the turn of the century. When Horatio's widow, Ella, died in 1941, she bequeathed the mansion and funds to maintain it to the Woman's Literary Union (WLU). The WLU is an organization whose purpose is the intellectual and cultural advancement of its members and the community. Among its guests over the years have been Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Garcelon House(late 1880's)	Situated on the last parcel of the Little family's vast land holdings, this prestigious structure was built to house A.A. Garcelon's medical practice as well as his family. Alonzo Garcelon (1813-1906), a physician and surgeon in the Civil War, was born in Lewiston. His efforts in getting the railroad to come to Great Falls made possible the area's rapid industrial growth. He was elected Governor in 1879. Presently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the most graceful example of Queen Anne architecture offers 3400 sq. ft of elegantly-restored office space.
Squire Little's Home(1827)	This is unquestionably, the most historic home in Auburn. Built in 1826 for Auburn's most beneficent founder, philanthropist, educator, and incorporator, Squire Little, a lawyer, was one of the driving forces in the development of the Great Falls community. Squire Little also gave the city its first high school (located at the intersection of Main and Academy Streets). The home has served many purposes since passing out of the Little family. It was recently restored to its original Federal Style elegance and is now a private residence.
South Main Street/Pheonix Block(1854)	Jacob Roak and E.F. Packard took the lead in rebuilding this area when the entire block was destroyed by fire in 1853. It was called the Phoenix Block when it rose out of the ashes a year later.
Roak Block(1871)	Jacob Roak joined with eight others in 1871 in the construction of this four-story brick building. Among those making their start here were long time leaders Dingley & Foss and Wise & Cooper, such that it became known as the "Cradle of the Auburn Shoe Industry." Roak, in addition to being a shoe manufacturer, was a banker and business man, who secured the cooperation of these prominent shoemakers, each of whom invested and owned a separate vertical section of the combined structure.
The Goff Building(1873)	This four-story brick building is on the site of the Goff Store -- the first in the area 50 years ago when the toll bridge was built. It served as the post office until 1868. Today it houses the Great Falls Brewing Company; a bar and restaurant.
Auburn Hall(1865)	After fire consumed the original Auburn City Building in 1864, towns people were determined to have a more imposing building to replace it. They hired G.J.F. Bryant of Boston, designer of the Androscoggin County Building, to draw plans; one year later, the new Auburn Hall was completed. City offices were housed there only until 1897.