Maplewood Farm (South Windham, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Maplewood Farm
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | River Rd., opposite Anderson Rd., South Windham, Maine |
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| Area | 135 acres (55 ha) |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001813 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1991 |
Maplewood Farm, also known as the Anderson-Lord House, is a very old farm in South Windham, Maine, United States. This special farm covers about 135 acres (55 hectares). What makes it unique is that the same family has owned it since 1738! The main house on the farm has a cool and fancy style called Gothic Revival.
Maplewood Farm was also a summer home for important people. One was John Anderson, a well-known politician from Maine in the 1800s. His son, John Farwell Anderson, was also famous. He was a smart engineer and someone who studied farming. Because of its history and special buildings, Maplewood Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it's a place worth protecting!
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Exploring Maplewood Farm
Maplewood Farm is made up of several pieces of land. It stretches out in a long strip, with River Road cutting through the middle. The Presumpscot River forms its western edge. Most of the land is now covered with trees. But there's a big open area where the farm's buildings are located. They are set back a bit from River Road.
What Does the Main House Look Like?
The main house was first built around 1770. It's a two-story house made of wood. Around 1850, it was changed a lot to look like it does today. This new style is called Gothic Revival. It has steep, pointy roofs called gables. You can also see decorative wooden trim called bargeboard. The windows are shaped like tall, pointed arches, which are called lancet arches.
Other Buildings and Features
Besides the main house, there are other old buildings from the mid-1800s. These include two barns and a small cottage. There's also a small cemetery for the Anderson family. It's located near the road, a bit southeast of the main buildings.
A Family's Long History
The land for Maplewood Farm was bought in 1738 by Abraham Anderson. When the farm was listed as a historic place in 1991, his family still owned it! The main part of the farmhouse was likely built in the mid-1770s. Edward Anderson, Abraham's descendant, probably built it after he got married in 1774.
Important Owners and Changes
Later, in the mid-1800s, the farm went to John Anderson. He was a very important politician in Maine. He turned the farm into a summer home and a "gentleman's farm." This means it was a working farm, but also a nice country estate. John Anderson hired an architect named Charles A. Alexander from Portland, Maine. Alexander made the Gothic Revival changes to the house. People think he also designed the other buildings that are still there today.
John Anderson's son, John Farwell Anderson, was also very important to the farm. He brought a special type of cow called Devon cattle to Maine. He made Maplewood Farm one of the most successful farms in Windham during the 1860s.
Maplewood Farm is important for its amazing collection of Gothic Revival buildings. It's one of only a few places in Maine with so many well-preserved buildings in this unique style.
