Holmes Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Holmes Cottage
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 521 Main St., Calais, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1820 |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001855 |
| Added to NRHP | April 4, 1988 |
The Holmes Cottage is a very old house located at 521 Main Street in Calais, Maine. It was likely built around 1820. This makes it the oldest building still standing in the town!
The cottage is special because it was once home to Dr. Job Holmes. He was a very important doctor when Calais was first growing. Today, the St. Croix Historical Society owns the cottage. They run it as the Dr. Job Holmes Cottage & Museum. Because of its history, the cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
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Exploring the Holmes Cottage
The Holmes Cottage sits on the south side of Main Street. This road is also known as United States Route 1. It is just a short distance east of the main downtown area. Right next to it, you can find the Dr. Job Holmes House. This house also belongs to the St. Croix Historical Society.
What Does It Look Like?
The cottage is a one-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides. A chimney stands in the middle of the roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The front of the house looks balanced. There is a main entrance in the center. This entrance is part of a section that sticks out and has its own small roof. On the main roof, there are two small windows with their own gabled roofs.
Inside the Old House
Inside, the house has a classic layout for its time. A narrow, winding staircase is right in front of the central chimney. To the left, you would find the parlor, which is like a living room. The kitchen is on the right side. Behind these rooms, there is a long, narrow room. The parlor is especially interesting. It still has its original woodwork and door handles from the early 1800s. These parts are very well preserved.
A Glimpse into the Past
No one knows the exact date the Holmes Cottage was built. Some local stories say it was built even before 1805. The first person known to own the house was Artemus Ward. He was a land investor from Boston. He bought the house in 1805.
Dr. Job Holmes' Home
Later, Dr. Job Holmes bought the cottage. He lived there with his family for many years. They stayed in the cottage until their new house next door was built in the 1850s. The cottage remained in the Holmes family for a long time. In 1954, the family gave the house to the St. Croix Historical Society. This gift helped make sure this important piece of history would be saved for everyone to enjoy.
See also
