Criterion A: Social History, Community Planning and Development
Criterion C: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1917-1920
Local Level of Significance
The Washington Park Historic District in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine is significant at the local level for its association with World War I defense housing. The war in Europe both before and after the United States' entry created an increased demand for ship building in Bath. This district reflects the immediate need to house a large number of workers and their families who flocked to the city to work in the shipyards and related industries. Under Criterion A, Social History, the district is significant as a privately planned development that addressed the communitys increased housing demand in response to a wartime population spike at war related manufacturing sites. This private response is in direct contrast to the federal governments two larger developments within the city. The district is also significant as the visible response to the needs of the local society during a time of rapid change. As a distinguishable entity, Criterion C, the district is architecturally significant as a unit. Although the individual resources are modest examples of common house types, collectively they feature a cohesive portfolio of architecture that characterized the end of the second decade of the twentieth century in the United States. Also under Criterion C, Community Planning and Development, the district has significance in understanding the local mechanisms used to plan for and develop housing during the boom years of World War I related ship manufacturing. The period of significance extends from 1917 to 1920. In 1917, the developers Clough, Maxim & Roche began to market and build houses in the subdivision and by 1920 construction ended in the area due to lack of housing demand as expanded wartime production had ended.