Matthew Cottrill House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matthew Cottrill House |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Address | Main Street (U.S. 1) |
| Town or city | Damariscotta, Maine |
| Country | US |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Nicholas Codd |
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Matthew Cottrill House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Area | 1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| Built | 1801 |
| Part of | Main Street Historic District (ID79000154) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000177 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
| Designated CP | August 10, 1979 |
The Matthew Cottrill House is a really old and important house in Damariscotta, Maine. It was built way back in 1801. This house is a great example of the Federal style of architecture. It's special because of Matthew Cottrill, an immigrant from Ireland. He was a very successful businessman in Damariscotta. He also helped start the Roman Catholic church in Maine. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Matthew Cottrill House is located on Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. It's a two-story building made of wood. It has a gently sloped roof and a strong foundation made of granite. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding.
The front of the house looks very balanced and neat. It has five sections, called bays. The windows on the sides have shutters. The main front door is in the middle. A round porch with columns covers the entrance. Above the door, there's a smaller window with a half-round fan shape at the top. A long, single-story part of the house extends to the back. This part was probably built even before the main house.
Who Was Matthew Cottrill?
The older, back part of the house might have been built around 1760. It was likely built by the Chapman family, who were well-known in the area. The main part of the house was built in 1801 for Matthew Cottrill.
Matthew Cottrill was an Irish immigrant, just like the builder, Nicholas Codd. Matthew Cottrill and his friend James Kavanagh were very important to the economy of Damariscotta. They ran mills, built ships, and owned ships that sailed on the Damariscotta River. Matthew Cottrill also played a big role in setting up the first Catholic church in Maine.
The Builder: Nicholas Codd
Nicholas Codd was a builder from Boston, Massachusetts. He was invited to the Damariscotta area by a priest named Rev. Francis Matignon. Nicholas Codd built several beautiful houses in the area, including this one. He also built St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Damariscotta Mills. This church is the oldest Catholic church in the entire state of Maine!
