Benjamin Cleaves House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Cleaves House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. High St., Bridgton, Maine |
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| Built | 1828 |
| Architect | Rufus Porter |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000390 |
| Added to NRHP | April 20, 1988 |
The Benjamin Cleaves House is a special old house in Bridgton, Maine, United States. It was built in 1828 and is a great example of a building style called Federal architecture. What makes this house really stand out are the amazing paintings on its walls. These murals were likely created by a famous traveling artist named Rufus Porter. Because of its history and unique art, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Contents
What Does the Cleaves House Look Like?
The Cleaves House is located on the west side of South High Street, near Bridgton Hospital. It's a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and two chimneys inside. The outside is covered with clapboard siding, and it sits on a strong granite foundation.
The Front of the House
The front of the house is very balanced and neat. It has five sections, with the main door in the middle. On either side of the door are tall, narrow windows. Above the door, there's a rounded, fan-shaped window with slats. A porch with a sloped roof stretches along the south side of the house.
Inside the House
From the back of the main house, several smaller sections extend, connecting it to a large barn. Inside, there's a narrow hallway in the center with a winding staircase. On each side of the hall, there are front rooms, called parlors. Both the hallway and the parlor on the northeast side have beautiful painted murals. These murals show scenes of the countryside and the coast, bringing the outdoors inside.
Who Built the House and What Makes it Special?
People believe the Benjamin Cleaves House was built around 1828 for Benjamin Cleaves, who was a local tinsmith. It's a really good example of Federal architecture from that time, and there aren't many other houses like it in Bridgton.
The Amazing Wall Murals
The most famous part of the house is its wall murals. Experts think these paintings were done by Rufus Porter between 1830 and 1835. The style and subjects of the murals match the advice Porter gave in his 1825 book, Curious Arts. He used bold and bright colors in these paintings, which was a bit different from his earlier work. These murals make the Benjamin Cleaves House a unique piece of art and history.
