Baxter House (Gorham, Maine) facts for kids
|
Baxter House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Baxter House
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 67 South Street, Gorham, Maine |
|---|---|
| Built | 1797 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | South Street Historic District (ID88000398) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000135 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 27, 1979 |
| Designated CP | April 20, 1988 |
The Baxter House is a really old and special house in Gorham, Maine, United States. You can find it at 67 South Street. This house was built way back in 1797! It's famous because it was the birthplace of James Phinney Baxter. He later became the mayor of Portland, Maine. James Phinney Baxter was also the dad of Percival Baxter, who was a two-time Governor of Maine.
In 1907, James Phinney Baxter gave the house to the town of Gorham. It opened as a museum in 1908. Today, you can visit the Baxter House museum on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June to August. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
What Does the Baxter House Look Like?
The Baxter House is located on the west side of South Street. It's just south of the town center. It stands right next to the Baxter Memorial Library.
The house is a two-and-a-half-story building. It's made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides. There's one chimney inside the house, not quite in the middle. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The front of the house faces east and looks very balanced. It has a main door in the center. Small windows are on each side of the door. There are also decorative columns next to the door. Above the door is a special fan-shaped window, which is typical of the Federal style of architecture. Two small dormer windows stick out from the roof. A two-story addition extends from the back of the house.
A Look into the House's History
The Baxter House was built in 1797 by Isaac Gilkey. He was a local carpenter who built other buildings in the South Street area. In 1812, Doctor Elihu Baxter bought the house. His youngest son, James Phinney Baxter, was born here in 1831.
Later in the 1800s, other interesting people lived in the house. One resident was Dr. N. H. Cary. His daughter, Annie Louise Cary, became a very famous opera singer!
In 1907, James Phinney Baxter bought his birthplace back. He then gave it to the town of Gorham. He had a special request: a library should be built on the original site of the house. He also wanted the house to be saved as a museum. This museum would honor his father, Elihu Baxter. So, the house was moved a short distance north to its current spot. The library was then built where the house used to be.
Important People Connected to the House
Many important people are linked to the Baxter House:
- James Phinney Baxter: He served six terms as Mayor of Portland, Maine. He was also a successful businessman and helped many charities.
- Percival Baxter: He was James Phinney Baxter's son. Percival served two terms as Governor of Maine. He is most famous for donating most of the land for Baxter State Park. This park is a huge natural area in Maine.
- Annie Louise Cary: She was a very popular American singer in the late 1800s. She was known for her beautiful opera performances.
See also
