Gov. William King House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gov. William King House
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c. 1920 postcard view
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Whiskeag Rd., Bath, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1812 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000112 |
| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1976 |
The Governor William King House, also known as the Stone House, is a very old and important house in Bath, Maine. It was built in 1812. This stone house has special windows with pointed arches. These windows are some of the first examples of a building style called Gothic Revival in New England.
The house was built as a summer home for William King. He was a very important person who helped Maine become its own state. He also became Maine's first governor. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
What the House Looks Like
The King House is in a quiet, country part of northern Bath. It is a stone building with two and a half floors. It is made from carefully cut granite blocks. The roof has two sloping sides that meet at the top, which is called a gabled roof.
The front of the house faces east. It has three main sections. The main door is in the middle. On each side of the door are tall windows. These windows have many small glass panes and pointed arches at the top. The roof has a small, square tower on top, called a cupola. Inside, the house still has its original wooden decorations. These are from a style called Federal period.
Who Was William King?
William King lived from 1768 to 1852. He was a very successful businessman in Bath in the early 1800s. He bought and sold many things. He was also a leader in the local army, called the militia. This was during the War of 1812. At that time, Maine was not its own state. It was part of Massachusetts.
William King was key in helping Maine become a separate state. He helped write Maine's first rules, called its constitution. In 1820, he was chosen to be Maine's very first governor. He bought a large piece of land in this area between 1809 and 1813. He planted an apple orchard there. He had this house built around 1812 to be his summer getaway. His main home was closer to the center of Bath.
