Capt. Josiah E. Chase Octagon House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Capt. Josiah E. Chase Octagon House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Chase Mill Road, East Limington, Maine |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000431 |
| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1987 |
The Capt. Josiah E. Chase Octagon House is a special old house in East Limington, Maine. It's called an octagon house because it has eight sides, just like an octagon shape! This house was built around 1858. It is one of only about twelve octagon houses from that time that are still standing in Maine. It's also one of the best-preserved, meaning it hasn't changed much over the years.
This unique house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States. The person who built this house, Josiah Chase, was a ship's captain who traveled the seas.
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What Makes the Chase Octagon House Special?
The Chase Octagon House sits among oak trees on a small hill. It is close to where the Little Ossipee River meets the Saco River in Limington, Maine. This house is made of wood and has two stories. Its roof also has eight sides, matching the house, and a small tower called a cupola on top.
All eight sides of the house are about the same size. They are covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The main door faces west, away from the rivers. It has a strong door with narrow windows on each side and flat columns next to them. Long ago, there was a fancier porch at the entrance.
How Does the House Look?
The corners of the building have flat columns that look like panels. Most of the windows are narrow and come in pairs. There are also a few single-story bay windows that stick out from the house. The cupola on top has small windows with rounded tops.
What's Inside the House?
The inside of the house has changed a little over time. Some walls were removed to make bigger rooms. An entrance to the kitchen was also closed off. Upstairs, there were originally seven triangle-shaped rooms. One wall was taken out to create a larger room there. Near the house, there is also an old carriage barn from the same time period.
Who Was Captain Josiah Chase?
The Chase family in Limington comes from Deacon Amos Chase. He is thought to be the first white settler in the town. Josiah E. Chase's father owned a sawmill near the river. Josiah himself started working at sea when he was just 18 years old. He began his career on a whaling ship, which hunted whales.
Building the Octagon House
Josiah bought the land for this house in 1858. He bought it from James Madison Chase, though their exact family connection is not known. Soon after buying the land, Josiah built his unique octagon house. The house stayed in his family for many years, until 1971.
