Odd Fellows Block: 182-190 Lisbon

The Odd Fellows Block, built in 1876, moves away from the Second Empire look with its Italianate roof strongly accented with cornice brackets. The windows, which are Victorian Gothic, dominate a textured facade trimmed with a fanciful combination of brick and granite. The building is architecturally significant as the most important surviving example of commercial architecture by the partnership of William H. Stevens and George Coombs, which lasted from 1874 until Stevens death in 1880. Coombs went on to create one of the largest practices in Maine. The Odd Fellows Block is locally an outstanding example of polychromatic Victorian commercial architecture. Historically the building is important as the location of several fraternal organizations. In addition to the Odd Fellows, the upper floor hall was used by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the U. O of G.C Androscoggin Commander, and the Knights of Honor.