[1] The Roak Block stands on the east side of Auburn's commercial Main Street, near its junction with Mechanics Row.

It is a long 3-1/2 story masonry building, built of brick and stone, with a mansard roof, studded with dormers, providing a full fourth floor in the attic level.

On the ground floor, each section houses a retail storefront except the center one, which provides access to the main building lobby.

Second floor windows are set in round-arch openings with stone keystones and shoulders, with a narrow stringcourse acting as a sill.

[2] The block was built in 1871-72 to a design by the Lewiston firm of Stevens and Coombs, for Jacob Roak, a shoe manufacturer and leading businessman in the city.