29-516: The Amos Gerald House is a historic house at 107 Main Street in Fairfield, Maine . Built c. 1910 by Maine businessman Amos F. Gerald , the house is notable both for its architecture, which is best described as resembling a medieval castle, and for its association with Gerald, who was a major proponent of electrification in the state, and who built many of the state's (now defunct) trolley systems. The house
58-427: A "meeting, council, and manager " form of government. The town meeting is a citizen legislature, with limited legislative responsibility primarily related to establishing the town budget, approving annual appropriations, and approving any new indebtedness the town may incur. A five-member Town Council carries out the towns remaining legislative functions, including the creation of regulations, ordinances, and town policy,
87-520: A central projecting bay flank flat sections. The central bay is supported by iron columns on the first floor, and rises to the fourth. It has rounded corners, with windows at the corners and the center, except for the ground level, where the projection shelters the recessed main entrance. The bay supports rest on a solid slab of granite that was reported to be the largest quarried in Maine at the time. This bay originally had an elaborate rooftop pavilion (visible in
116-507: A male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
145-477: Is flat, and the main roof originally had a parapet similar to that of the tower. Surrounding the tower on the front is a single-story porch supported by thick columns, also fashioned out of concrete blocks, and sporting a crenellated parapet. A wood-frame addition extends to the rear of the main block. Fairfield, Maine Fairfield is a town in Somerset County , Maine , United States. The population
174-540: Is located in Fairfield and is one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System . Colby College and Thomas College are four year colleges located in the neighboring town of Waterville. 44°35′18″N 69°35′55″W / 44.58833°N 69.59861°W / 44.58833; -69.59861 Gerald Hotel The Gerald Hotel is a former hotel building at 151–157 Main Street in
203-422: Is set on the west side of Main Street in the village center of Fairfield, a short way south of the junction of Maine State Route 100 and United States Route 201 . The four story brick and terracotta building towers over nearby buildings, which range in height from one to three stories. The main facade is decorated with terracotta trim elements, and is divided into five sections: projecting polygonal corner bays and
232-594: The Kennebec River to the Battle of Quebec . Following the Revolutionary War , Fairfield Plantation developed as a trade and agricultural town, with farms producing hay, grain and potatoes. It was noted for the number and quality of its cattle. On June 18, 1788, it was incorporated as Fairfield. By 1790, the community had 492 inhabitants. In 1837, it produced 11,531 bushels of wheat and a large quantity of wool. Falls on
261-491: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Fairfield has a humid continental climate , abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. As of the census of 2010, there were 6,735 people, 2,793 households, and 1,851 families residing in the town. The population density was 125.3 inhabitants per square mile (48.4/km ). There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 56.1 per square mile (21.7/km ). The racial makeup of
290-547: The Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers in what is today Winslow . In 1692 during King William's War , the village was burned, so the Canibas tribe abandoned the area. The French and Indian Wars finally ended in 1763, leaving the region open for English colonization. Fairfield Plantation, named for its fair aspect, was first settled in 1774. Benedict Arnold and his troops rested and re-provisioned here in 1775 during their march up
319-500: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 54.58 square miles (141.36 km ), of which 53.75 square miles (139.21 km ) is land and 0.83 square miles (2.15 km ) is water. Fairfield is drained by the Kennebec River . This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to
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#1733092660757348-414: The 1905 postcard view); this was removed in the mid-20th century. The flanking flat bays each have paired windows on the upper level (each level having different decorative treatment), and plate glass windows at the ground level. The left corner bay has a carriage entrance at the ground level, with the projecting polygonal bay above. The rightmost bay has a plate glass window at the ground level. The hotel
377-481: The Kennebec drop 34 feet (10 m) at Fairfield, providing water power for industry. The mill town had eight sawmills, three planing mills, a gristmill, a canned corn factory, plaster mill, three carriage factories, a sled factory, two door, sash and blind factories, a cabinet and box factory, coffin factory, a clothing factory, a marble works and a tannery. The largest factories were the textile plants—Kendall's Mills in
406-539: The SAPPI paper mill just north of Hinckley). The Somerset Railroad (Maine) traversed western Fairfield on a route that once ran north from Oakland to Norridgewock, Madison, Bingham, and Moosehead Lake. In 1889, Reverend George W. Hinckley founded the Hinckley School . In 1899–1900, The Gerald Hotel was built downtown. Designed by Maine architect William Robinson Miller , it was commissioned by Amos F. Gerald, builder of
435-607: The Town Council and advises the council on matters before it. The current Town Manager is Michelle Flewelling. Fairfield schools are part of Maine School Administrative District 49 . Roberta Hersom is the Superintendent of Schools. The following schools are in the district, Albion Elementary, Adult Education, Benton Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Fairfield Primary, District Childcare Program, Lawrence High School and Lawrence Junior High School. Kennebec Valley Community College
464-455: The approval of town contracts and commissions, and the appointment of town officers. The council also carries out quasi-judicial functions, such as review of certain decisions by town boards and committees or town officers. The council also oversees the work of the Town Manager. The Town Manager carries out the day to day executive functions of the town under the guidance and in consultation with
493-405: The average family size was 2.92. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males. The median income for a household in the town
522-526: The center of Fairfield, Maine , United States. It was designed by William R. Miller for Amos F. Gerald , one of Maine 's leading businessmen of the late 19th century, and built in 1899–1900. It is a striking Renaissance Revival structure, with a sophistication of design and decoration not normally found in rural Maine, and is one of the town's largest buildings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The Gerald Hotel building
551-616: The first electric trolley system in Maine. The hotel was topped with a statue of Mercury , the Roman god of speed, and remained in operation from 1900 until 1937. Miller also designed the town's Lawrence Library , dedicated on July 25, 1901, and the Lawrence High School. Today, Fairfield makes wood and paper products, and is largely a bedroom community for Waterville. The town has three post offices because it contains four different unincorporated townships under municipal jurisdiction of
580-407: The population. There were 2,586 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and
609-788: The southeastern extremity of the town, and Somerset Mills located about two miles above. The main line of the Maine Central Railroad passes through Fairfield on the way from Portland to Waterville to Bangor, and the Skowhegan branch of the Maine Central Railroad (originally the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad) ran along the Kennebec River from Waterville to Skowhegan , with stations in Shawmut and Hinckley (today, this line terminates at
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#1733092660757638-546: The state. The elaborate design of the Gerald Hotel was typical of Gerald's buildings, which were intended to be objects of curiosity. Gerald was a longtime Fairfield resident; his house , also a Miller design, is also listed on the National Register. The Gerald Hotel operated for 35 years, with commercial businesses on the ground floor, and was a major gathering point for social and civic events. From an early date, one of
667-686: The town of Fairfield: The third post office serves the incorporated urban Fairfield (CDP) , an early name for which was Kendall's Mills. For approximately 75 years, the urban district was under a village corporation government. Thus, the town would hold New England style town meetings that covered business for the greater town, followed by a village corporation meeting to deal with urban needs, including police service, fire department service and town engineer service ( public works ). The non-urban, unincorporated areas—Shawmut, Fairfield Center and Hinckley—were not assessed taxes for urban services they did not receive. This arrangement ended in 1929. According to
696-584: The town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,573 people, 2,586 households, and 1,773 families residing in the town. The population density was 122.3 people per 1 per square mile (0.39/km ). There were 2,801 housing units at an average density of 52.1 per square mile (20.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 97.92% White , 0.35% Bl.ack o.r African American , 0.33% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.05% from other races , and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of
725-418: The town was 97.4% White , 0.4% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 0.1% from other races , and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 2,793 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had
754-446: Was $ 36,462, and the median income for a family was $ 43,533. Males had a median income of $ 31,227 versus $ 22,930 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 16,335. About 6.3% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over. Fairfield has a government established in accordance with its municipal charter. Like many Maine towns, Fairfield has
783-472: Was 6,484 at the 2020 census . The town includes Fairfield Center, Fairfield village and Hinckley, and borders the city of Waterville to the south. It is home to the Good Will-Hinckley School, Lawrence High School and Kennebec Valley Community College . The area was territory of the Canibas tribe of Abenaki Indians residing at Taconnet village, once located downriver at the confluence of
812-432: Was designed by Lewiston architect William R. Miller and built in 1899-1900 for Amos F. Gerald (1841-1913), one of Maine's leading businessmen. Gerald was born in nearby Benton , and invested in a large number of businesses in Maine, including electric trolley systems in several areas, industrial mills, and amusement parks. He built the state's first electrical power station in Fairfield, and promoted electrification across
841-438: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Gerald House is set on the northwest side of Main Street ( United States Route 201 ) on the fringe of Fairfield's central business district. It is a two-story building with a prominent centrally-placed three-story round tower that has a crenellated parapet. The building is fashioned out of concrete blocks that are finished to resemble rusticated stone. Its roof
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