John Williams House (Mount Vernon, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
John Williams House
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Pond Rd. (ME 41), Mount Vernon, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.25 acres (0.10 ha) |
| Built | 1827 |
| Built by | Williams, John; Eaton, Moses |
| Architectural style | Federal Cape |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000531 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1984 |
The John Williams House is a really old and special house located on Pond Road (Maine State Route 41) in Mount Vernon, Maine. It was built way back in 1827! This house is famous for its amazing wooden decorations inside. These were made by a talented local craftsman named John Williams. It also has beautiful painted designs on the walls, thought to be done by a folk artist named Moses Eaton. Because it's so important, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 6, 1984.
Contents
What Does the John Williams House Look Like?
The John Williams House is found right in the middle of Mount Vernon village. It's a one-and-a-half story house made of wood. It has a pointed roof and chimneys on each end. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding.
Unique Features of the House
The front of the house faces east and looks a bit uneven. There are two windows to the left of the main door. To the right, there's a part that sticks out with two more windows. The main entrance is special too. It has tall, narrow windows on either side and flat, decorative columns called pilasters. Above the door, there's a large, fan-shaped design. This is a common style from the Federal architecture period.
Inside, the house has some truly beautiful details. The area around the fireplace has fancy woodwork with decorative columns and a cool pineapple design. Many of the walls inside the house also have unique painted patterns called stencilwork.
Who Built This Historic House?
The John Williams House was built in 1827 by a man named John Williams. He was a very skilled cabinetmaker and builder in the area. John Williams was well-known for his work. He built several other houses that are still standing today. He was also known for making carriages!
John Williams' Craftsmanship
Examples of furniture made by John Williams have been shown at the Maine State Museum. He had his workshop right next to his house. This shows how important he was as a craftsman in his community.
The Art of Moses Eaton
The beautiful stencilwork you can see on the walls of the house is believed to be done by a folk artist named Moses Eaton. Folk art is a style of art created by ordinary people, often using traditional methods and designs. Moses Eaton's work adds another layer of artistic importance to the John Williams House.
