Supplemental Supporting Information for a Finding of Effect Project: Searsport 17281.00 Route 1 Scope: Highway reconstruction Finding of Effect: No Adverse Effect Purpose and Need The purpose of the action is to improve vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian safety along 1.94 miles of Route 1 (Main Street) in Searsport. The need for this project is because the pavement is deteriorated and failing and the sidewalks are narrow, discontinuous, and do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This corridor links downtown Searsport to the Port of Searsport and carries many oversized and heavy weight vehicles, along with a heavy volume of traffic during the tourist season. Additionally, Route 1 is a Priority 1, Principal Arterial, on the National Highway System and carries approximately 12,500 annual average daily traffic (AADT). Proposed Action The proposed action (Option 1) would include rehabilitation of the travel lanes and full depth shoulder reconstruction from Sta. 241+00 (south of Savage Road northeast to Sta. 266+50 at Mill Brook) and full depth reconstruction of the travel lanes and shoulders from Mill Brook to Stat. 242+50 (the end of the project north of Station Road). The project would include two 12’ travel lanes, 5’ shoulders, and 5.5’ sidewalks, except where a center left turn lane would be constructed from Sta. 313+25 south of Trundy Road to Sta. 340+00 north of Station Avenue. The typical cross section would be curbed urban box section with closed drainage. Granite curbing would be installed in the downtown area and bituminous curbing would be installed elsewhere. Sidewalks in the downtown would be brick with a bituminous base. Sidewalks would be reconstructed with gaps eliminated to provide a continuous route and ADA compliance. Lighting, style, and how many fixtures, would be determined by the Town of Searsport. Streetscape improvements and landscaping would be completed by MaineDOT in coordination with the Town. Drainage work would include capturing runoff and diverting flow at twin culverts at Sta. 289+50. Federal Action Federal funding Definition of Area of Potential Effect (APE) The proposed project is located in Searsport. A map is attached below that shows the APE. Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction Figure 1. Searsport 17281.00 Area of Potential Effect 2 MaineDOT WIN 17281.00 Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction Historic Properties The proposed project is located in Searsport. The following descriptions of historic properties found within the project area are based on Maine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) survey forms and the National Register of Historic Places. Searsport Village Historic District (Various Owners, 241+00L to 310+50L & 259+00R to 310+75R) National Register-eligible Criteria A, B, & C: Architecture, Commerce, Community Planning and Development, and Maritime History The Town of Searsport was first settled in the late eighteenth century and was incorporated in 1845. The town developed steadily through the nineteenth century and reached its prominence as a result of shipbuilding and trade. Searsport boasted as many as eight shipyards in operation in the 1860s and in 1885 one-tenth of all full rigged ships sailing under American flags were commanded by Searsport captains. The twentieth century brought change for the community as shipbuilding operations ceased and other industrial pursuits opened, encouraged by the construction of a spur of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad to the town’s port. As early as the 1920 and 1930s the town began participating in Maine’s growing tourism industry as residences were converted to inns and a summer park and resort were planned on Sears Island. Thus, the historic district contains numerous intact Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, and Queen Anne-styles residences. Many of these houses were built for or housed captains, sailors, and their families. The district also contains an intact commercial center with Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate-style structures. Finally, the district contains rare and important examples of early to mid-twentieth century development including a c.1920 gas station (with canopy) and a c.1940 Minimal Traditional house and garage. The district includes the entirety of the Searsport Historic District and East Main Street Historic District and two resources in the Penobscot Marine Museum Historic District. The historic district’s period of significance is c.1800-c.1940. 3 MaineDOT WIN 17281.00 Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction Searsport Historic District (Various Owners, 273+00R to 278+00R & 273+50L to 275+00L) National Register-listed Criteria A, B, & C: Architecture, Commerce The Searsport Historic District contains the commercial downtown of Searsport. The district contains a cohesive collection of two-story brick commercial buildings built close to Route 1. The district spans the town’s nineteenth century development spurred by shipbuilding and maritime trade. The district contains Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, and Italianate-style structures. In addition to the district’s commercial structures, it also includes the Searsport Methodist Church, an 1840 Greek Revival-style building. The district is included in the Searsport Village Historic District. The period of significance is c.1800 to c.1899. Penobscot Marine Museum Historic District (Penobscot Marine Museum, 277+00L to 278+60L) National Register-listed Criteria A & C: Architecture, Art, Education, Landscape Architecture, Science, Transportation The Penobscot Marine Museum Historic District includes 5 buildings, including two located within the project area. These two buildings are also included in the Searsport Village Historic District. The district contains buildings related to Searsport’s maritime history and municipal development. The Fowler-True-Ross House is a two-story timber frame house built in 1825. The house is sheathed in clapboard and has a rear ell. It has a gable-side roof with two interior end chimneys. The main façade has five bays featuring twelve-over-twelve windows on the first story and a Federal door surround with a multi-pane fanlight. The second story has twelve-over- eight windows. The Federal-style First Congregational Church Vestry was constructed in 1841. 4 MaineDOT WIN 17281.00 Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction The brick two-story structure features a three-bay main façade with rounded arched window flanked by two paneled doors with fanlight transoms. The building also has a rear ell sheathed in clapboard. This structure was used by the church for its meetings and classes until 1994. The district’s period of significance is c.1800 to c.1899. East Main Street Historic District (Various Owners, 301+00 to 306+00R & 308+75L) National Register-listed Criteria A, B, & C: Architecture, Industry, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development The East Main Street Historic District includes five historic properties, three of which are listed individually in the National Register. The district contains the Second Empire and Italianate styles. These wood frame houses are some of the most ornate in Searsport and many are accompanied by substantial carriage barns. The buildings are placed on large spacious lots that are heavily wooded or landscaped. The houses have all been owned or originally constructed for individuals associated with maritime trade, sea captains or shipbuilders. Searsport, in the latter part of the nineteenth century, supplied one-tenth of the sea captains for American full rigged ships. This district is included in the Searsport Village Historic District. The period of significance is c.1860 to 1941. House, 80 West Main Street (Teresa Zajonczkoski, 245+00R to 246+50R) National Register-eligible Criterion C: Architecture This c.1890-1900 House is a one-and-a-half story Queen Anne-style house with a compound roof and a wraparound porch supported by round Doric columns. The house is sheathed in wood 5 MaineDOT WIN 17281.00 Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction shingles and sits on an ornamental concrete block foundation. The period of significance is c.1890 to 1900. James G. Pendleton House, 81 West Main Street (James McGowan & Patricia Stewart, 244+50L to 246+00L) National Register-listed Contributing Resource to National Register-eligible Searsport Village Historic District Criteria B & C: Architecture, Commerce The James G. Pendleton House and carriage barn were built c.1865 to1903. The house is a two- story Italianate-style house featuring a bay window, bracketed eaves and denticulated cornice on the gable sided roof line. Two ornamented brick chimneys stand on the interior ends of the roof line. The main façade has three bays and features an ornate portico entry with decorative frieze work, bracketed eave and dentils in the cornice band. On the second story of the main façade, the central window is a triple grouped rounded window with a unifying triple rounded arch window frame, each with a keystone. The other windows feature two different types of window hoods, a flat denticulated type (first story), and a segmental arch type (second story). Its period of significance is c.1865 to 1903. Captain John McGilvery House, 120 East Main Street (Douglas Markwardt, 301+00L to 302+50L) National Register-listed Contributing Resource to National Register-listed East Main Street Historic District Contributing Resource to National Register-eligible Searsport Village Historic District Criteria B & C: Architecture, Commerce The Captain John W. McGilvery House is a three-story Second Empire-style house built c.1874. It features a concave mansard roof complete with dormers, weatherboard siding, and corbelled 6 MaineDOT WIN 17281.00 Supplemental Information for a Finding of Effect Searsport Route 1 Highway Reconstruction brick chimneys. A two-story carriage barn is connected to the house via a northeast wing on the main house.