Moore-Mayo House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moore-Mayo House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lighthouse Road, Bass Harbor, Maine |
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| Area | 19.5 acres (7.9 ha) |
| Built | 1947 |
| Built by | Ruth Moore, Eleanor Mayo |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001050 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 2004 |
The Moore-Mayo House is a special old house located on Lighthouse Road in Bass Harbor. This village is part of Tremont, Maine. The house is famous because two important authors, Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo, built it and lived there. They wrote many stories about life in Maine. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States.
Contents
The Moore-Mayo House: A Home for Writers
What Does the House Look Like?
The Moore-Mayo House sits on the west side of Lighthouse Road. Its land stretches all the way down to the ocean shore. A pretty lilac hedge helps hide the main house from the road. Beyond the house, there are overgrown fields that lead to the water. Near the shore, you can find a small wooden cabin with a deck.
The main house is a single-story building made of wood. It grew bigger over time as Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo added to it. It started with a main square part in the middle. Later, they added more sections to the west and south sides. Each part of the house has a sloped roof with its wooden beams showing.
How Was the House Built?
Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo started building the main part of the house in 1947. Eleanor's father, Frederick Mayo, helped them. They used many recycled materials to build the house. Some parts came from an old Civilian Conservation Corps camp. They also used second-hand materials and wood they found on the beach.
In 1948, the house got modern updates like plumbing and electricity. The two extra sections were added in the years that followed. Inside, the floors and walls are made of pine wood. The kitchen and bedrooms even have built-in pine cabinets. The small cabin by the shore was built later, in 1962.
Who Were Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo?
Ruth Moore (1903–1989) and Eleanor Mayo (1920–1981) were both born in the area of Bass Harbor. They met each other in 1940. Ruth Moore had already published some books by then. However, her most successful work came after they met.
Ruth Moore was praised by many for her writing. People loved her social comments, her clever humor, and her unique way with words. She was especially known for writing about rural Maine life. She followed in the footsteps of other great Maine writers like Sarah Orne Jewett. Eleanor Mayo published five novels. She later became involved in local government. She was the first woman to serve on the Tremont board of selectmen.
