Benjamin Wiley House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Wiley House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Fryeburg, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1772 |
| Built by | Benjamin Wiley |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000248 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1980 |
The Benjamin Wiley House is a very old and important home located on Fish Street in Fryeburg, Maine. The oldest part of this house was built in 1772. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in the entire town!
The house was first built by Benjamin Wiley. He was one of the very first settlers in Fryeburg. Later, a bigger part of the house was added between 1790 and 1792. This newer part was built in a style called Federal. The Benjamin Wiley House shows how old homes in rural Maine often grew over time. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list includes important historic places across the United States.
Exploring the Benjamin Wiley House
The main part of the Benjamin Wiley House is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a large chimney in the middle. The roof slopes down on two sides. The house sits on a strong foundation made of cut granite.
What Does the House Look Like?
The front of the house faces southeast. It has five sections, or "bays," which means it has five windows or doors across. The main front door is right in the center. On each side of the door, there are tall, flat columns called pilasters. These support a decorative piece above the door. This piece includes a fan shape inside a special arch.
A two-story section, called an "ell," extends from the main house towards the east. This ell has a single-story porch in front of it. There is also a one-story shed that connects the house to a barn.
Who Lived in This Historic Home?
The oldest part of the house is the two-story ell. Its first floor was built in 1772 by Benjamin Wiley. He was one of the original owners and early settlers of Fryeburg.
The main part of the house, which looks like the Federal style, was built later. This happened between 1790 and 1792. Other parts and changes were added to the house throughout the 1800s.
Many interesting people lived in the Benjamin Wiley House over the years. Besides Benjamin Wiley, some important residents included:
- Joseph Colby: He was a soldier who fought in the War of 1812.
- Samuel Chandler: He was a state representative, meaning he helped make laws for Maine.
- Enoch Barker: He was a stonemason. This means he was skilled at working with stone. He was known for his work on the canals in Lowell, Massachusetts.
