Maine Industrial School for Girls, juvenile detention and education facility on Winthrop Street in Hallowell, Maine
The Maine Industrial School for Girls is a youth detention facility with historical significance in Hallowell. The hilltop campus consists of rectangular brick buildings in Colonial Revival style erected between 1898 and 1938, originally containing classrooms, dormitories, a laundry room, a gymnasium, and a dental office.
The facility was founded by the State of Maine in 1874 to provide moral education and training for girls. In the 20th century, its purpose shifted toward detention and punishment, then in the 1970s it converted to office space and later sat vacant for years until acquired for restoration in 2016.
The school's name reflects its original purpose of teaching girls practical skills and moral values. The campus layout with classrooms, dormitories, and work spaces shows how the institution shaped daily life and learning for its residents.
The site sits on a hillside northwest of downtown with views toward the Kennebec River and is easily accessible. The restored buildings now function as apartments, student housing, and office spaces, making it straightforward to walk through the historic grounds.
Interior renovations in the 1970s had destroyed most original features, but recent restoration work carefully uncovered and cleaned hardwood floors and a tin ceiling in the main hall. These hidden details reveal the craftsmanship of the original construction.
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