Dreamhome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dreamhome
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| Nearest city | Bryant Pond, Maine |
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| Area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| Landscape architect | Harold Hill Blossom |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001037 |
| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1996 |
Dreamhome is a special historic summer home located near Bryant Pond, a village in Woodstock, Maine. This beautiful property sits on 16 acres of land right by Lake Christopher, also known as Bryant Pond. It includes a main house, a guest house, a boathouse, and lovely gardens. These gardens were designed by a famous landscape architect named Harold Hill Blossom.
The land for Dreamhome was originally part of a much larger property. It belonged to William and Bessie (Collier) Ellery. They had the main house built around 1916. Dreamhome is quite large and grand, which was unusual for homes in the middle of Maine back then. Because of its history and unique design, the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
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What Does Dreamhome Look Like?
Dreamhome is made up of several buildings, each with its own special features.
The Main House
The main house at Dreamhome is a two-story building made of wood. It faces east, looking out over the lake. The front of the house has four sections, with the two middle ones set back slightly. On the sides, there are parts that stick out, topped with sloped roofs.
On the first floor, all four sections have French doors, which are doors with glass panes. Originally, the end sections had windows or a porch. The upper floor has large windows that open outwards. At the back of the house, a two-story hallway connects the main house to what was once a bathhouse. The entire house, both inside and out, is designed in the Colonial Revival style. This style brings back popular designs from early American colonial times.
The Guest House
The guest house is located south of the main house. It was built sometime after 1918. This building is a single story, also made of wood, with three sections and a sloped roof. It has a chimney in the middle. The entrance is covered by a small porch with a pointed roof, supported by round columns. Inside, the guest house has four rooms, all finished with special wooden paneling.
The Boathouse
The boathouse is found southeast of the main house. It's a simple, one-and-a-half-story wooden building. It sits on a U-shaped concrete base, which makes it easy to get boats into the water. Above the wide entrance for boats, there's a small balcony. You can reach this balcony through French doors.
The Story Behind Dreamhome
The story of Dreamhome began in 1916. That's when Bessie Collier Ellery received some of the land from her father, Edmund Collier. It's believed that the Ellerys started building their home soon after. In 1918, they hired Harold Hall Blossom from Dedham, Massachusetts, to design the beautiful grounds around the house.
The Ellerys were quite wealthy, likely from the textile industry. This allowed them to buy a large amount of land, about 125 acres. This land included about half a mile of waterfront along the west side of Lake Christopher. It stretched across both Woodstock and Greenwood, Maine.
Later, during a difficult economic time, the Ellerys faced financial challenges. Because of this, the towns of Woodstock and Greenwood took over parts of their property. Over time, the original large estate was divided into smaller pieces. Today, the main part of Dreamhome, including the historic buildings, remains on 16 acres.
The grand size and style of the estate built by the Ellerys were more common in coastal areas of Maine. In contrast, the inland parts of Maine usually had simpler hunting camps or more rustic buildings. This makes Dreamhome quite unique for its location.
