James Montgomery Flagg House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James Montgomery Flagg House
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The house in 2014
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Martin's Lane, Biddeford Pool, Biddeford, Maine |
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| Area | 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Craftsman/Bungalow |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000260 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1980 |
The James Montgomery Flagg House is a historic home located in the Biddeford Pool area of Biddeford, Maine. It was built in 1910 as a summer house for James Montgomery Flagg. He was a famous artist and illustrator from New York. Flagg is well-known for his political cartoons and especially for the iconic World War I recruiting poster. This poster shows Uncle Sam pointing and saying "I Want YOU for U.S. Army." The house itself has special murals painted by Flagg. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2013, the house needed repairs. Its owner received permission to take down parts of the house and rebuild it. The plan was to carefully save Flagg's beautiful murals.
Who Was James Montgomery Flagg?
James Montgomery Flagg (1877–1960) was a very talented American artist. He was famous for his illustrations and cartoons. He drew for magazines and created many posters. His most famous work is the "Uncle Sam Wants You!" poster. This poster encouraged young men to join the army during World War I. Flagg's art helped shape how people saw America and its role in the world.
The Flagg House: Design and Location
The Flagg House is found on the north side of Biddeford Pool. This area is a small piece of land that sticks out into the Gulf of Maine. It is located south of where the Saco River meets the ocean. The house is part of a group of homes on St. Martin's Lane. This is a private road that goes through a golf course.
The house itself is a 1½-story bungalow. It is made of wood and has a stucco (a type of plaster) outside. The roof slopes to the sides and has two chimneys. The front of the house faces south, away from the sea. It has seven sections with the main entrance in the middle. The roof above has two small dormer windows. The back of the house, facing the sea, looks similar. It has one wide dormer window. There are also single-story sections extending from both sides of the main building.
Preserving History and Art
James Montgomery Flagg used this house as his summer retreat for many years. He stayed there from 1910 until 1940. During this time, he painted amazing murals on the walls of the first floor. These murals show beautiful landscapes of Maine and scenes of the coast.
The house was recognized for its importance in 1980. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is considered a significant historical building. In 2013, the house needed major work. The Biddeford Historic Preservation Commission allowed the owner to rebuild parts of the house. The owner promised to carefully save all of Flagg's unique wall murals. This way, the art and history of the house can be preserved for the future.
