Barrows-Steadman Homestead facts for kids
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Barrows-Steadman Homestead
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., Fryeburg, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1809 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Main Street Historic District (ID91000324) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000771 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 12, 1982 |
| Designated CP | March 22, 1991 |
The Barrows-Steadman Homestead is a very old and special house in Fryeburg, Maine, United States. It was built around 1809. This house is famous because of the amazing paintings on the walls of one of its bedrooms. These paintings were made by two well-known artists from the 1800s, Rufus Porter and Jonathan Poor. They were "itinerant" painters, meaning they traveled around to paint. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its history and unique art.
Contents
What Does the House Look Like?
The Barrows-Steadman House is a two-and-a-half story building. It is made of wood and sits on a stone foundation. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The roof has two large chimneys.
Main Entrance Details
The front of the house faces Main Street. It has five sections, with the main door in the middle. The front door has narrow windows on the sides and decorative columns next to them. Above the door, there is a fan-shaped window and a decorative band.
Side and Back Features
Another entrance is on the side, facing Stuart Street. This side has three sections. The southwest side of the house has a round-arch window and decorative brackets. These were added later, around 1910. A part of the house, called an ell, extends to the back along Stuart Street. It also has two doorways.
The Amazing Murals Inside
The Barrows family has owned this house since 1820. The most exciting part of the house is a room with special paintings. These paintings, called murals, were created in 1830. The artists were Rufus Porter and Jonathan Poor. Rufus Porter was a very talented person who did many different jobs, including painting.
What the Murals Show
The murals are a beautiful landscape scene. They show richly colored trees and other natural elements. These paintings are still in excellent condition today. They are a rare example of art from that time period.
