Story
The North Franklin Agricultural Society (NFAS) called a special meeting on July 3, 1894 to accept the gift of money and labor from “citizens and friends” for the erection of an “Exhibition Building” on the NFAS fairgrounds.
The North Franklin Agricultural Society incorporated in 1852 and had been hosting fairs in Franklin County for decades, when they decided to construct a building in the town of Phillips. The clapboard-clad, gable-front building is reminiscent of a barn and aside from paint, a simple cornice is its only ornament. The building was intended to support the NFAS fair, which assembled farmers, tradespeople, merchants, jockeys, and residents from Phillips, Avon, Strong, Madrid, and Rangeley for several days of exhibitions and events. According to the Philips Historical Society (PHS), the fairs were an opportunity for sharing knowledge, displaying skills, and introducing new technologies for farming, livestock management, and arts and crafts. These small-town fairs also provided a venue for entertainment, educational sessions, and a forum for those seeking community and political support.
The Exhibition Building was intended as a multipurpose structure situated at the gate to the fairgrounds. A 1913 article from Maine Woods detailing the largest town fair in Phillips’ history, illustrates its programming. Specimens of “fancy work” by local textile artisans, including needlework, crochet, and clothing, were exhibited upstairs. Paintings, arts and crafts, as well as flower arrangements were judged during the fair. Downstairs sported a bumper crop of vegetables, despite “lacking as far as apples are concerned.” Local merchants could also display their wares, such as “an evaporator exhibited by the G.H. Ginn Company,” cream separators, and jewelry. Guests also visited the building to purchase tickets to watch the horse races that took place in the adjacent Toothaker trotting park.
Aside from faint marks in the grass showing the footprint of the original horse track, the Agricultural Building (as it is known today) is the only physical evidence that remains of the local fair which ceased after 1938. As automobile ownership increased, farmers were able to travel to larger county fairs, leaving smaller gatherings such as the North Franklin fair obsolete. In 1944, the Agricultural Building was deeded to the Town of Phillips. For the next seven decades, the building served as a town fire station and garage. The wooden barn doors were replaced with a metal garage door, and the painted clapboards were covered by Insul-brick–faux brick asphalt shingles. The garage door was later removed.
In 2014, the Town transferred the building to PHS, while maintaining ownership of the land on which it sits. This arrangement is not uncommon but could present challenges for ongoing maintenance responsibilities and grant seeking. The small nonprofit uses the building for storage of its collection of farming equipment, fire apparatus, carriages and a hearse.
The Maine Historic Preservation Commission determined that the property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as a relic of small-scale agricultural fairs that flourished before the advent of the automobile. The Agricultural Building still reflects the importance of agriculture to both the economy and social fabric of Phillips and surrounding areas in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Threat
PHS welcomed the public into the building during the Old Home Days fair, until deferred maintenance and safety concerns stopped that annual tradition in 2019. The unpainted clapboards are vulnerable to deterioration and broken windows have left the building exposed to the elements. The asphalt siding installed during the Town’s tenure compromises the hall’s historic integrity, hiding rich yellow and red colors–presumably from the original paint scheme. Inside, broken stairs have left the second floor inaccessible. The aging wood frame has been selectively reinforced, but its overall condition is unknown. Its disuse has allowed for the abutting trees to begin enveloping the building.
How to get involved
While PHS understands its responsibilities as a steward of the Agricultural Building, the organization has prioritized preservation of its other property, the Captain Joel Whitney House, which serves as PHS’ headquarters and museum in downtown Phillips.
Increased financial support would allow PHS to hire a qualified professional to conduct a conditions assessment of the Agricultural Building, which would identify character-defining features, outline treatments, and prioritize repairs. Armed with this critical information, they can then make informed decisions and competitively pursue grant opportunities.
With a plan in hand and an official nomination to the National Register, PHS could apply to the new Historic Community Building Grant Program thanks to Maine voters who voted “Yes” on Question #3 in November 2024.
PHS may also consider how to garner more attention and buy-in from residents of Phillips and surrounding Franklin County. Locals with suggestions or ideas for the building’s future are encouraged to contact PHS.
Contact the Phillips Historical Society - https://phillipshistoricalsocietymuseum.org/.
Photo Credits: Phillips Historical Society; Maine Geologic Survey; Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Museum; Maine Preservation
