Chapman-Hall House facts for kids
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Chapman-Hall House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 270 Main St. (corner of Vine St.), Damariscotta, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1754 |
| Built by | Nathaniel Chapman |
| Part of | Main Street Historic District (2001 increase) (ID00001636) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000077 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1970 |
| Designated CP | January 22, 2001 |
The Chapman-Hall House is a very old house in Damariscotta, Maine. It was built way back in 1754. This makes it the oldest house still standing in Damariscotta. It is also one of the oldest houses in the entire state of Maine! Today, it is a historic house museum. This means you can visit it to learn about life long ago. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical places.
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What is the Chapman-Hall House?
The Chapman-Hall House is located in downtown Damariscotta. It is a one-story house made of wood. It has unpainted wooden shingles on the outside. The roof slopes down on the sides, and there is a large chimney in the middle.
The front of the house has five windows and a door. The door has a small window above it. Inside, you can see the original wooden beams. There are also old fireplaces with wood panels. The walls have plasterwork from the time it was built. In the 1960s, the house was carefully fixed up. This is when it first opened as a museum.
Who Built This Old House?
People first tried to settle in the Damariscotta area in the 1600s. But it was hard to stay because of many conflicts with Native American groups. Permanent settlement finally began in 1748.
The Chapman-Hall House was built in 1754. It was built by a man named Nathaniel Chapman. He was a housewright, which means he built houses. Nathaniel's half-brother, Anthony Chapman, was one of the first people to settle permanently in the area. Both brothers came from a town called Ipswich, Massachusetts. Anthony convinced Nathaniel to come to Damariscotta. He wanted Nathaniel to build homes for the new settlers. Nathaniel Chapman once owned all the land that is now downtown Damariscotta.
Saving a Piece of History
By 1960, the Chapman-Hall House was in danger. It was almost torn down! But a group of local people decided to save it. They worked to restore the house. They wanted it to look just like it did in the 1700s. A special expert named Abbott Lowell Cummings helped guide the restoration.
Since then, the house has been a museum. It helps people learn about life in early Maine. Since 2008, the Lincoln County Historical Association has taken care of the museum.
See also
