Mary R. Hurd House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mary R. Hurd House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Elm Street, North Berwick, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000180 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1979 |
The Mary R. Hurd House is a very old and special house located in North Berwick, Maine. It was built way back in 1894. This house is known for its beautiful and fancy design, which is called the Queen Anne style.
A remarkable woman named Mary Hurd had this house built. She owned and ran the North Berwick Woolen Mill for almost 60 years! Mary Hurd was also very generous to her town. Today, the house is a cozy bed and breakfast. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1979, because of its importance.
What Does the Mary R. Hurd House Look Like?
The Hurd House is a big, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It stands on the west side of Elm Street in the center of North Berwick. The house has a unique shape and a busy roofline. These features are typical of the Queen Anne style of architecture.
It has three chimneys that are decorated with fancy designs. The roof is made of slate and has an iron crest. There's even a special fenced-in area on the roof called a widow's walk. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding, and the foundation is made of strong granite.
The main front door faces east. It is protected by a porch that wraps around the first floor. Above this, there's a smaller porch on the second floor. Both porches have groups of turned columns supporting them. They also have pretty latticework and decorative railings. Next to the entrance, a window section sticks out slightly. It's square on the first floor and has many sides on the second floor.
Who Was Mary R. Hurd?
Mary R. Hurd had the house built in 1894 when she married David Hurd. She was born in 1839. When her father, William Hill, passed away in 1873, Mary took over the North Berwick Woolen Mill. She managed the business for a very long time, until she passed away in 1933 at the age of 94.
Mary Hurd was a very important person in North Berwick. She gave a lot of money to help the town. For example, she paid for a fire station and a fire truck. She also funded the building of the D. A. Hurd Library and made sure it had money to operate. Mary Hurd even kept her mills running during the early years of the Great Depression. This was a very difficult time for businesses, but she helped people keep their jobs.
Today, the Mary R. Hurd House is known as the Angel of the Berwicks Bed & Breakfast.
