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 special old building located at 270 Main Street in Damariscotta, Maine. It's like a time capsule, showing what homes were like long ago. Built in 1754, it's the oldest house still standing in Damariscotta and one of the oldest in the entire state of Maine! This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Contents
What the Chapman-Hall House Looks Like
The Chapman-Hall House is a one-story building made of wood. It's built in a style called "Cape style," which was popular a long time ago. The outside walls are covered with wooden shingles that aren't painted. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, and a big chimney right in the middle.
Inside the Historic House
The front of the house has five windows and a main door. The door has a small window above it with four glass panes. Inside, you can see the wooden beams that hold up the house. There are also special fireplaces with wooden panels around them. The walls have old-fashioned plasterwork. In the 1960s, the house was carefully fixed up to look just like it did in the 1700s. That's when it first opened as a museum!
The History of This Old House
The area around Damariscotta was first explored in the 1600s. But people didn't start living there permanently until 1748. This was because of many conflicts with Native American groups.
Who Built the Chapman-Hall House?
The Chapman-Hall House was built in 1754 by a man named Nathaniel Chapman. He was a "housewright," which means he was skilled at building houses. Nathaniel's half-brother, Anthony Chapman, was one of the very first people to settle permanently in this area. Nathaniel came from a town called Ipswich, Massachusetts, and his brother convinced him to move to Damariscotta to help build homes for the new settlers. Nathaniel Chapman actually owned all the land that is now downtown Damariscotta at one point!
Saving a Piece of History
By 1960, the Chapman-Hall House was in danger of being torn down. But a group of local people stepped in to save it! They worked to restore the house to how it looked in the 1700s, with help from a history expert named Abbott Lowell Cummings. Since then, the house has been a museum. Since 2008, the Lincoln County Historical Association has been taking care of it, making sure people can still visit and learn about its past.
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