John Dunlap House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Dunlap House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4 Oak Street, Brunswick, Maine |
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| Built | 1799 |
| Architect | Samuel Melcher III, Aaron Melcher |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000138 |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1979 |
The John Dunlap House, also known as the Gilman Mansion, is a really old and important house in Brunswick, Maine, United States. It was built way back in 1799 for John Dunlap, who was a very successful businessman in the area. People thought it was one of the grandest houses around at that time! This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, which means it's officially recognized as special.
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What Makes the John Dunlap House Special?
The Dunlap House is located in a neighborhood west of Brunswick's main town area. It sits on a small hill. From this spot, you would have had a great view of the Androscoggin River nearby.
How the House Looks
This house is a large, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and two chimneys inside. The outside is covered with wooden boards, and it sits on a strong stone foundation.
The front of the house faces east. It has a fancy entrance with a Greek Revival style porch. This porch has tall, fluted columns that support a decorative frame and a top edge. The front door has windows on the sides and a small window above it. Two smaller, one-story parts extend from the back of the house.
Inside the Mansion
When it was first built, the house was huge! It had 50 rooms and amazing views of the river. The gardens around it were also very beautiful and unique for the town. One of the most impressive parts was a 50-foot long drawing room. There was also a grand three-story staircase made of mahogany wood.
Who Was John Dunlap?
The John Dunlap House was built in 1799. It was designed by two brothers, Samuel III and Aaron Melcher. When it was finished, everyone in Brunswick thought it was the most beautiful home in town.
A Wealthy Businessman
The house was built for John Dunlap, who was the richest person in Brunswick at the time. His father was the town's first minister. John Dunlap became very wealthy through the fur trade. He also made a lot of money from Brunswick's growing lumber industry.
A Family Home for Many Years
Later, a Congressman named Charles J. Gilman married Alice McKeen Dunlap, who was a descendant of John Dunlap. They lived in this grand mansion. The house stayed in the Dunlap family until 1929. After that, it was divided into many smaller apartments.
