Klir Beck House facts for kids
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Klir Beck House
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Vienna, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | Beck, Klir A. |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000067, updated to 100001239 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
| Removed from NRHP | June 30, 2017 |
The Klir Beck House, also known as The Gnomes, was a very special house in Vienna, Maine. It was built by an artist named Klir Beck as his summer home. The house had a really unique and unusual design. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, which means it was recognized as an important historical place. Sadly, the house was destroyed by a fire in 2000 and was later removed from the list in 2017.
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A House Like No Other
The Klir Beck House was located in a quiet, rural area of Vienna, surrounded by woods, fields, and lakes. It stood near the village of Mount Vernon. This house was one and a half stories tall and built using a mix of materials.
Its Unique Design
The house had a foundation made of stone, with stones that were not perfectly shaped. The first floor was built in a style called "half-timbered brick." This means it had a wooden frame with bricks filling in the spaces. The upper half-story used "half-timbered stucco," where stucco filled the spaces in the wooden frame.
The roof had a pointed, gabled shape, with parts that stuck out. These parts had a carved wooden balcony that looked like something from a Swiss castle! Some of the walls were even decorated with a beautiful lotus flower pattern on the brick. Inside, the house was just as creative and fun. For example, the living room floor had a compass built right into the stone.
The Artist Behind the House
The Klir Beck House was built in 1927 by Klir Beck himself. He actually changed and added to an older farmhouse from the 1800s to create his unique design.
Who Was Klir Beck?
Klir Beck was a well-known artist. He was famous for making dioramas, which are 3D scenes that look very real. You can even see some of his dioramas at the Maine State Museum!
The House's Sad End
In January 2000, a fire started in the basement of the Klir Beck House. Sadly, the fire spread and completely destroyed the house.
