The first half of the 1970’s, each of the trade departments on campus was housed in its own building — all deteriorating relics of the former airbase. Although the old base buildings were a significant aid when the college was beginning, they had become largely inadequate by 1974. A new home was needed for many of the trades so that continued expansion of the programs could be safely achieved.

In 1974, a new carpentry building was constructed which housed a large classroom and a carpentry shop. It provided the carpentry students with access to modern tools and a place to use them. This building would later become a part of what would eventually be known as the Mailman Trades Building.

Planning and design for the remainder of the Mailman Trades Building began in 1980. New construction would consist of a $1,400,000 addition to the carpentry building. Several designs were considered for the project, including one that would add four separate buildings, each housing its own department, situated around the carpentry building and connected by covered walkways. Eventually it was decided to construct one large addition to the carpentry building that would house the Plumbing and Heating, Diesel Hydraulics, Automotive Technologies, and Welding Department all under the same roof.

Designed by Webster-Baldwin-Day-Rohman Architects/Engineers of Bangor, Maine, the new addition allowed for the abandonment of the old base buildings that were formerly used by the trades departments in favor of a safe new facility. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 26, 1981, and in attendance was Representative Edith S. Beaulieu, who authored the legislation for the bond issue from which the funding originated. The general contractor for the project was Ouellet Construction Company of Madawaska, Maine, the same contractor that would later construct Snow Hall. Construction was completed by the summer of 1984 and students began using the new facility that fall semester.

In 1991, the building was renamed in honor of Harold Mailman, Director of NMVTI from 1969 to 1979. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of Andrews Hall, the carpentry building, the auto-body shop, and the multi-purpose addition to the Christie building, which houses the gymnasium, athletic facilities, classrooms and labs. The renaming of the Mailman Trades Building honors his strong support for the trades and his decade of dedication as director.

Credit: Brian Hall June 3, 2011