The H. C. Hight Building, constructed in 1895 in downtown Fairfield, Maine, originally functioned as a livery stable during the height of the horse-and-carriage era. Located near the intersection of Upper Main and Bridge Streets, it offered essential services such as horse boarding and rentals. Built of brick, the structure reflected typical design features of late-19th-century stables in Maine, with dedicated space for horses, carriages, and hay storage.

As transportation modernized with the introduction of electric trolleys and automobiles, the need for livery stables declined. Like many similar buildings of the time, the Hight Building was eventually repurposed for other commercial uses, adapting to the town’s changing economic and technological landscape.

Fairfield’s economic growth during this period was powered by the nearby Kennebec River, which supported a range of industries. The river supplied waterpower for sawmills, planning mills, and factories producing doors, sashes, and blinds. In addition to wood products, the town also had diverse businesses including a corn cannery, a clothing factory, a grist mill, and a tannery.