Amos Gerald House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Amos Gerald House
|
|
1970 photo
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 107 Main St., Fairfield, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Medieval Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000252 |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 1980 |
The Amos Gerald House is a very unique old house located at 107 Main Street in Fairfield, Maine. It was built around 1910 by a famous Maine businessman named Amos Gerald. This house is special because it looks a lot like a medieval castle! It's also important because of its connection to Amos Gerald, who was a big supporter of bringing electricity to Maine. He also built many of the state's old trolley systems. The house was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means it's a historically important building.
The Amos Gerald House: A Castle in Maine
The Amos Gerald House is found on the northwest side of Main Street (United States Route 201) in Fairfield. It's right on the edge of the town's main business area.
What Makes This House Look Like a Castle?
This house is a two-story building with a very noticeable three-story round tower in the middle. This tower has a "crenellated parapet," which means it has a top edge with square cut-outs, just like a castle wall! The house is made from concrete blocks. These blocks were specially made to look like rough, old stone. The main roof of the house is flat. It originally had a similar crenellated edge, just like the tower.
In front of the tower, there's a one-story porch. This porch is held up by thick columns, also made from those special concrete blocks. It also has a crenellated parapet, adding to the castle look. A wooden addition extends from the back of the main house.
Meet Amos Gerald: A Visionary Businessman
Amos Gerald (1841-1913) was born nearby in Benton, Maine. He moved to Fairfield in the 1860s after traveling around the American West. He is best known for starting more than a dozen electric trolley systems across Maine. He also built the state's very first electric power plant in Fairfield in 1886.
It's said that Amos Gerald himself watched over the making of the concrete blocks used for his house. This house might even be the first home in Maine built using this material! It's also the only known house in the state that looks like a medieval castle.
