Milliken, Tomlinson Co, Importers and Wholesale dealers in Flour, Groceries and Provisions

Baxter-Davts Block is an early 20th century commercial building on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine. This large square five story building designed by father and son architects Francis H and Edward H Fassett was constructed of brick for the Milliken, Tomlinson Co, wholesale groceries, largest concern of the kind in town. The facade is delineated by cast iron pilasters on the first two floors and brick pilasters on the upper stories. Between the cast iron pilasters of the first and second stories are wood frame sash with transoms. The two main entrances are distinguished by small pedimented porticos, banded brick and the company's monograph. The upper three stories have double-hung sash with two-over-two lights. - AsNotedIn

In the early morning hours of November 5, 1901, calamity struck the firm's Portland office. The Milliken-Tomlinson Block on Commercial Street was consumed by fire. The Hamlen offices, on that same block, were utterly destroyed. The citizens of the city turned out in large numbers to view the picturesque ruins of the large brick structure which was razed to the ground, save for the main stairway. Over this still hung the black wooden sign bearing the company's title, the gold lettering bright as ever. Above it, the window casement presented the outline of a cross surmounted by a crown. So much so did the ruins resemble those of a cathedral that may photographers of the day sought to preserve the scene on film.