Looking Up: Exchange & Middle

From the corner of Exchange and Middle Streets, looking up towards the old First National Bank building. According to the Maine Historical Society, the building was designed by Henry Van Brunt and built in 1884. A few other notable buildings designed by Van Brunt's firm, Van Brunt & Howe, include the iconic Union Station in Portland, Oregon, and the Cambridge Public Library in Massachusetts.

Better Know a Building: Lancaster Block

Lancaster Block, built in 1881, sits along Portland's Monument Square at 474 Congress Street. The building was designed by John Calvin Stevens and is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The style of this building is Romanesque, according to a source.

Better Know a Building - 165 Congress Street

This home at 165 Congress Street (currently on the market) was designed by important Portland related architects Francis Fassett and John Calvin Stevens. It was built in 1875 and is currently split into four units. I always admired the stained glass above the front door and windows.

And the local non-profit organization of the day is Preble Street. Founded in 1975, they offer many programs to help the most vulnerable and needy residents of the city. Visit their website for donation and volunteer information: http://www.preblestreet.org/