Brown-Pilsbury Double House facts for kids
The Brown-Pilsbury Double House is a very old house in Bucksport, Maine, United States. It was built around 1808. This house is special because it was designed for two families to live in. It's a rare example of an early 1800s wooden duplex. A duplex is a building with two separate homes inside. In 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building.
Quick facts for kids |
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Brown-Pilsbury Double House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 188–190 Franklin St., Bucksport, Maine, United States |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1808 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001129 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1997 |
Contents
What the House Looks Like
This house is two and a half stories tall. It is made of wood and covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The bottom part of the house is made of strong granite stone. The roof slopes down on the sides, which is called a side-gable roof.
The house sits on a corner lot where Franklin and MacDonald Streets meet. At the back of the house, there's a smaller, one-story section. This part was likely added later in the 1800s.
House Entrances
You might notice a fancy entrance in the middle of the front (north) side. But this was probably added much later, in the late 1800s.
The two separate homes inside the duplex have their own entrances. One entrance is on the east side of the house. It has a "Federal style" design, which was popular in the early 1800s. The other entrance is on the west side. It has a "Greek Revival" style, which became popular a bit later.
Inside the House
The two homes inside the duplex are set up almost exactly the same. When you step inside each unit, you enter a small hallway. From there, a winding staircase leads up to the second floor.
On the first floor, you'll find doors leading to the basement, the kitchen, and the living room. The kitchens are special because they have large fireplaces. These fireplaces even have old "beehive ovens" built into them. These ovens were used for baking long ago.
The living rooms, also called parlors, have beautiful fireplaces. The carvings around these fireplaces show the fancy "Federal style" of the early 1800s.
The Unique Attic
The attic of the house is very interesting. It was originally one big, open space. The ceiling was curved like the inside of a barrel. People believe this large space might have been used for meetings by a group called the Masonic Lodge. Today, this attic space has been divided into two parts, one for each home.
Who Built the House?
The Brown-Pilsbury Double House was built around 1808. It was built for two business partners, John Hillyard Brown and Moody Pilsbury. Both men came from New Hampshire.
They were very active in the town of Bucksport. They helped with the town's business and community life. They were also known to be part of the local Masonic Lodge, which might explain the large attic space.
Sadly, both men faced financial difficulties around the time of the War of 1812. This war led to "embargoes," which meant that trade with other countries was stopped. This made it hard for many businesses to make money. For a while, one side of the house was even used as a home for the minister of the nearby Methodist church.
