Baxter House (Gorham, Maine) facts for kids
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Baxter House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Baxter House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 67 South Street, Gorham, Maine |
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| Built | 1797 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | South Street Historic District (ID88000398) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000135 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 27, 1979 |
| Designated CP | April 20, 1988 |
The Baxter House is a special old house in Gorham, Maine, United States. It was built way back in 1797. This house is important because it was the birthplace of James Phinney Baxter. He later became the mayor of Portland, Maine. James Phinney Baxter was also the father of Percival Baxter, who served as the Governor of Maine two times.
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. This historic home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Contents
The Baxter House: A Historic Home
The Baxter House is located on the west side of South Street in Gorham. It stands just north of the Baxter Memorial Library. This house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and a chimney in the middle.
What Does the House Look Like?
The front of the house faces east and looks very balanced. It has a main entrance in the center. This door is surrounded by small windows and decorative columns. Above the door, there is a beautiful semi-oval fan design. This style is called Federal. The roof has two small dormer windows that stick out. A two-story section also extends from the back of the house.
Who Lived Here?
The Baxter House was built in 1797 by Isaac Gilkey. He was a local carpenter who built other homes in the area. In 1812, Dr. Elihu Baxter bought the house. His youngest son, James Phinney Baxter, was born here in 1831.
Later, in the 1800s, Dr. N. H. Cary and his daughter lived in the house. His daughter was Annie Louise Cary, a very famous opera singer.
James Phinney Baxter: A Gift to the Town
In 1907, James Phinney Baxter bought his childhood home back. He then gave it to the town of Gorham. He had a special request: a library should be built on the original spot of the house. He also wanted the house to become a museum. This museum would honor his father, Dr. Elihu Baxter.
To make room for the new library, the Baxter House was moved. It was carefully placed just north of its first location.
Famous People Connected to the House
James Phinney Baxter was an important person in Maine. He served as the Mayor of Portland, Maine six times. He was also a successful businessman and gave a lot of money to good causes.
His son, Percival Baxter, became the Governor of Maine for two terms. He is most famous for donating most of the land for Baxter State Park. This park is a huge wilderness area in Maine.
Annie Louise Cary was a very popular singer in the late 1800s. She was known as one of America's favorite opera singers during her time.
