Capt. Reuben Merrill House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Capt. Reuben Merrill House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 233 West Main Street, Yarmouth, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000313 |
| Added to NRHP | July 12, 1974 |
The Captain Reuben Merrill House is a really old and important house located at 233 West Main Street in Yarmouth, Maine. It was built way back in 1858. This house is one of the biggest and fanciest homes from the 1800s in Yarmouth. It's also special because it's one of only three known buildings designed by a famous architect from Portland, Thomas J. Sparrow.
Because of its history and unique design, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today, it's home to Maine Preservation, an organization that works to protect old buildings and places across Maine.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Captain Reuben Merrill House sits on the north side of West Main Street. It's a big, three-story house made of wood. It has a special kind of roof called a hip roof, which slopes down on all four sides. The house is covered in clapboard siding, which are long, thin boards that overlap. It also has a strong foundation made of granite.
The front of the house has five sections, called bays. The main entrance is in the middle. It has a cool cover over it that also acts as a small balcony for the second floor. The windows on the first and second floors are tall and rectangular. The third floor has shorter, rectangular windows that don't open. You can also see a very old cast iron fence along the street. This type of fence is quite rare to find still standing today.
Who Was Captain Reuben Merrill?
This amazing house was built in 1858 for a man named Reuben Merrill. He was born in nearby Cumberland in 1818 and became a ship's captain. The house was designed by Thomas J. Sparrow, who was the first major architect to come from Portland, Maine. At the time it was built, people thought it was the most beautiful house in all of Yarmouth. A local master builder named John Dunham built the house. It was built on what was then the edge of Yarmouth village.
Sadly, Captain Merrill passed away in 1875 during a voyage near San Francisco. He was about 57 years old.
A Special Home for Maine Preservation
For many years, the Merrill family owned the house. Then, in 2011, they decided to lease the home to Maine Preservation. This organization works hard to save and protect historic buildings. It's a great way for the Captain Reuben Merrill House to continue its long history and help preserve other important places in Maine.
