Kate Douglas Wiggin House facts for kids
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Kate Douglas Wiggin House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Postcard view of Quillcote, 1916
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Salmon Falls Rd., Hollis, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1797 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Salmon Falls (West) Historic District (ID87001858) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000142 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 16, 1977 |
| Designated CP | October 30, 1987 |
The Kate Douglas Wiggin House, also known as Quillcote, is a special old house in Hollis, Maine. It was built way back in 1797. This house is famous because it was the home of the well-known writer Kate Douglas Wiggin from 1905 until she passed away in 1923. It's also a great example of how old buildings can be changed and updated over time. One room inside even has cool wall murals that might have been painted by Rufus Porter. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, which means it's an important historical site.
What is Quillcote?
Quillcote is located on the west side of Salmon Falls Road. It sits right by the Saco River in a village called Salmon Falls. The house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a front roof that comes to a point, like a triangle. The outside is covered with flat wooden boards called clapboard.
The front part of the house has a simple style called Greek Revival. This means it has a triangular section above the front door. This section has three windows. The middle window has a special arched shape at the top. The main entrance is in the middle of the front. It has a porch with columns in a style called Federal.
Behind this main part, you'll find the oldest section of the house. This part is also a two-story wooden building. Other sections extend out from the back and side. These parts connect the house all the way to a barn.
Inside Quillcote
When you go inside Quillcote, the front rooms are for guests and visitors. In the back, there's a sitting room, a kitchen, and a pantry. The bedrooms are all upstairs on the second floor.
One bedroom in the older part of the house has a curved ceiling. People think this might mean it was once used as a ballroom for dancing! In 1905, a balcony was added to this room. It sits above a bay window that sticks out from the sitting room below.
The most interesting room inside Quillcote is completely covered in murals. These are paintings directly on the walls. There's also a golden border running around the top of the room. Experts believe these paintings were made around 1820. They might even be the work of Rufus Porter. He was a traveling painter who created similar artworks during that time.
A Home for a Famous Writer
The oldest part of Quillcote was built around 1797. Local stories say a man named Jabez Bradbury built it. Later, he traded houses with his neighbor, Thomas Carll. The Carll family is believed to have given the house most of its current look.
In 1905, Kate Douglas Wiggin bought this house. She was already a very famous author, especially for her children's books. Kate had spent some of her childhood years in Salmon Falls. After her father passed away, her mother married Albion Bradbury, whose house was nearby.
Kate Douglas Wiggin was a widow when she bought the house. She decided to name it "Quillcote." This name means "house of the pen," which is perfect for a writer! She lived there with her sister until they both passed away.
