George W. Smith Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
George W. Smith Homestead
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Main St., Mattawamkeag, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000249 |
| Added to NRHP | January 15, 1980 |
The George W. Smith Homestead is a really old and special house in Mattawamkeag, Maine. It was built in 1874 by the son of one of the town's first settlers. This house has a unique Italianate style. It is the only house with such a special design in this small community. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
What is the George W. Smith Homestead?
This historic house is found on Main Street in Mattawamkeag. It sits back from the east side of the street. Mattawamkeag is a small town where the Mattawamkeag River meets the Penobscot River.
House Design and Features
The Smith Homestead is a two-story building made of wood. It has a special type of roof called a hip roof. There are two chimneys inside the house. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The house sits on a strong foundation made of granite.
The front of the house faces west. It has three main sections. The main door is in the middle. A small porch with square posts covers this entrance. On top of the roof, there is a small tower called a cupola. This cupola has arched windows and a decorative top. The edge of the roof has fancy brackets.
A part of the house, called an ell, extends to the back. This ell connects the house to a barn. The whole building complex looks like the letter "L". The main barn door also faces west. Above the barn door, there are two small windows in the roof called dormers.
The Smith Family History
Asa Smith was one of the first white settlers in Mattawamkeag. He was an important person in the town. He ran a store and also served in the state government.
His son, George W. Smith, built this house in 1874. George continued his father's business of running a store. He also worked as the local postmaster for many years. The house has stayed mostly the same since it was built. It is the only building in Mattawamkeag with such a special architectural design.
