Asahel Kidder House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Asahel Kidder House
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 22A, S of jct. with Bolger Rd., Fair Haven, Vermont |
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| Area | 3.4 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000024 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1997 |
The Asahel Kidder House is a special old home in Fair Haven, Vermont. It was built around 1843. Today, it is known as the Maplewood Inn. This house is a great example of Greek Revival architecture. It was built by a rich farmer named Asahel Kidder. The house became a protected historic site in 1997. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the Asahel Kidder House?
The Asahel Kidder House is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Fair Haven village. It sits on the east side of Vermont Route 22A. This road is the main way to go south from the village. The house has a main part and two large additions. There is also an old barn from the 1800s on the property. The barn faces Bolger Road.
A Look at the House's Design
The main part of the house is 2-1/2 stories tall. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, forming a triangle at the front. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard. The front of the house has three sections. It has tall, flat columns at the corners. These columns go up to a decorative band and a full triangular roof section. A triangular window is in the middle of this roof section.
The main door is on the right side. It has narrow windows on each side and flat columns. Above the door is a decorative frame. To the left of the main house is a one-story addition. It has similar decorations, including corner columns. The addition on the right side is probably the oldest part of the house. It was built around 1770. This part was added to the main house around 1870. It is 1-1/2 stories tall and has a porch with a slanted roof across its front.
The Story of the House and Its Owners
Asahel Kidder built the main house around 1843. He was a very successful sheep farmer in the area. He was also important in local town matters. The fancy Greek Revival style of his house showed how wealthy and important he was.
Around 1870, Mr. Kidder added the right-side addition. This building was an older "tenement house" or tavern. It was next to his property and he moved it to become part of his home. He did this to make more room for his growing family.
After Mr. Kidder passed away, his son-in-law, Isaac Wood, took over the farm. Mr. Wood changed the farm into a dairy business. It became famous as Maplewood Dairy. He built the left-side addition to the house around 1880. The dairy business ran for almost 100 years. It closed in 1979. The dairy building behind the house was taken down in the early 1980s. In 1986, the house was sold outside of the family. It was then turned into a bed and breakfast, which it still is today.
