Merrill-Poor House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Merrill-Poor House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Andover, Maine |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Colonial, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000106 |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1976 |
The Merrill-Poor House is a very old and important house in Andover, Maine. It sits on Maine State Route 120. This house was built a long time ago, starting in the late 1780s. It shows how homes changed in early American settlements.
This house is also special because two famous brothers were born here. They were John A. Poor (1808-1871) and Henry Varnum Poor (1812-1905). Henry later turned the house into a big summer home. The Merrill-Poor House is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a protected historical site.
Contents
What Does the Merrill-Poor House Look Like?
The main part of the Merrill-Poor House is a large, two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and sits on a strong granite base. The roof is shaped like a hip, and it has a big chimney in the middle.
This part of the house was built between 1788 and 1792. A man named Ezekiel Merrill built it. He was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He received the land for his service in the war. The front of the house has five sections and a door in the middle. This was a common style back then. Later, a fancy porch was added to the front. Originally, the house had two chimneys, but they were changed to one central chimney in the 1890s.
Who Lived in the Merrill-Poor House?
Ezekiel Merrill had a daughter named Mary. She married Sylvanus Poor. They inherited the house and land from Ezekiel. Their children became very important people.
Henry Varnum Poor: A Financial Expert
One of their sons was Henry Varnum Poor (1812-1905). He started a company that is now part of a big financial group called Standard and Poors. This company helps people understand money and businesses.
In 1890, Henry bought the family home back from his relatives. He wanted to make it a large summer estate. He worked with a famous architect named Edward Clarke Cabot. He also worked with a well-known landscape designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted designed many famous parks, like Central Park in New York City.
How Henry Changed the House
Edward Clarke Cabot made many changes to the main house. He added a large dining room that stretched across the back of the house. He also created many bedrooms upstairs. A part of the house used for servants was also moved.
The biggest change was building a "great hall" in 1896. This was a huge, two-story building. It was built where the old barn used to be. Inside, it had beautiful wooden designs, like those found in old churches or lodges. It was a very tall, open space, reaching about 90 feet (27 m) high at its highest point.
John A. Poor: The Railroad Builder
Another son of Mary and Sylvanus was John A. Poor (1808-1871). He was a lawyer and a businessman. John was very important in building railroads in Maine. He helped develop the Grand Trunk Railway. This railway connected different parts of the country and helped businesses grow.
Today, the Merrill-Poor House is still owned by the descendants of the Poor family. It remains a special piece of history.
