Charles Best House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles Best House
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Best House, 2006
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old County Rd., West Pembroke, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000784 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1982 |
The Charles Best House is a special old house located on Old County Road in West Pembroke, Maine, United States. It was built in 1845 and looks like many farmhouses from that time. This house is famous because it's where Charles H. Best was born in 1899. He was a very important scientist who helped discover insulin and how to use it to treat diabetes. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its history.
Contents
A Special House and a Great Discovery
The Best House is on the north side of Old County Road in West Pembroke. It is a two-and-a-half-story wooden house with a pointed roof. The front door has small windows on the sides and a decorative frame above.
Next to the main part of the house, there's a smaller, one-and-a-half-story section. This part has another entrance with a small roof above it. This wing connects to a single-story building that used to be a carriage house and a barn.
The Birthplace of a Hero
The house was likely built around 1845. In 1899, Charles H. Best was born right here. Charles Best grew up to be a brilliant scientist. He studied at the University of Toronto.
In 1921, he started working with two other doctors, Frederick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod. Together, they made an amazing discovery.
The Discovery of Insulin
On January 11, 1922, Charles Best gave the first dose of insulin to a human patient. This was a huge step forward in medicine. Insulin helps people with diabetes manage their blood sugar.
In 1923, Doctors Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Even though Charles Best didn't formally share the prize, Dr. Macleod shared his prize money with Best. This showed how important Best's work was.
Charles Best continued his research and developed other important treatments. He passed away in 1978.
Protecting the House
In 1959, the American Diabetes Association bought Charles Best's birthplace. Later, in 1978, it was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They then sold it to private owners, but with special rules to make sure the house is kept safe and preserved for the future.
