The name Granite Block derives from the literal interpretation of the appearance of the massive granite structure that once dominated this area known as Market Square – the intersection of Water and Winthrop streets. Granite Block was built in 1865-66, and had a number of reincarnations. It burned three times (1890, 1896, and the 1920’s) but was rebuilt each time. It finally succumbed to the wrecking ball in the early 1980’s, for want of a new roof and someone who cared about its history. This postcard blends the images of the 1890 U.S. Post Office and Court House (building with the tower) and Granite Block (in the right foreground). The view dates between 1890 and 1897, for the post office was enlarged between 1897 and 1912. (Further enlargement took place later.) The tower is 180’ 4” tall, but is nearly matched by the height of the other granite building. The post office building has served as a U.S. post office and courthouse, a restaurant, a bank, and office space. Today it houses a branch U.S. post office, offices for the University of Southern Maine, Literacy Volunteers of American, and the Maine Nurses Association.

The first Granite Block was an early business complex, housing businesses on the first floor, offices on the second floor, and a grand hall (appropriately called “Granite Hall”) on the third floor. On January 29, 1873, the Maine Women’s Suffrage Association convened their first meeting there. Augusta women who signed the call to meeting were Mrs. C.A. Quinby, Mrs. W. K. Lancey, Mrs. D. M. Waitt, Mrs. William B. Lapham, and Mrs. S. M. Barton.
The first women to hold elected offices for the statewide suffrage association were Augusta residents: Miss Addie Quimby and Mrs. W. K. Lancey, serving as secretary and treasurer, respectively. (Benjamin Kingsbury of Portland was elected president.) Over 1000 enthusiastic people attended this meeting, but it was 47 years and 7 months before Maine women got the right to vote. Maine women, however (and many men), worked actively in the late nineteenth century to gain the right for Maine women to vote. The League of Women Voters of Maine, which evolved from the first woman suffrage association, still maintains its state headquarters in Augusta, at 333/335 Water Street, diagonally across the street from the site of Granite Block. This postcard view of U.S. Post Office (after 1912) shows the enlarged building. A corner of Granite Hall can be seen in the right corner. The post office building still stands, but Granite Hall was demolished in the 1980’s.




Site #15.1  Sources:

	Douin, Anthony. Interviews by and conversations with Phyllis vonHerrlich, 17 March 2001, 31 August 2001, 18 September 2001, 28 September 2001, Augusta, Maine.
	League of Women Voters of Maine, On line resource available at http://www.curtislibrary.com/lwv/index.htm. Accessed 1 September 2001.
	Sleeper, Frank H. Images of America: Augusta. Dover, NH: Arcadia Publ., c1995.
	Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, Susan B. Anthony, and Matilda Joslyn Gage. History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. 3. Rochester, NY: Charles Mann, 1887.
	vonHerrlich, Phyllis.  “Farmers, Lawyers, or Merchants? Legislative Support for Woman Suffrage: 1873, 1883, 1893.” University of Maine Women’s Studies Independent Study, 2000.  [Unpublished.]