Moses Webster House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moses Webster House
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19th-century image of the house
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14 Atlantic Ave., 0.05 mi. E of jct. of Main St. and Atlantic Ave., Vinalhaven, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000309 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1998 |
The Moses Webster House is a special old house located at 14 Atlantic Avenue in Vinalhaven, Maine. It was built in 1873 for a man named Moses Webster. He owned one of the big granite quarries in Vinalhaven. This house is a great example of Second Empire architecture, a fancy style from that time. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
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About the Moses Webster House
The Moses Webster House is on the east side of Vinalhaven's downtown area. It sits at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Frog Hollow Road. This large house is made of wood and has 2-1/2 stories.
It features a special mansard roof, which is a roof with four sides, each sloping twice. The walls are covered with clapboard, which are long, thin wooden boards. The house also has a strong foundation made of granite.
Unique Design Features
The front of the house is wide, with six sections called "bays." A part on the left sticks out and has a three-story tower. This tower also has a mansard roof.
On the far left, there's a two-story window area shaped like a polygon. It has a pointed top and decorative brackets. A porch runs across the right side of the front. It wraps around to the side of the house. The porch is held up by square posts and has a low railing.
The windows on the second floor come out of the roof. These are called "wall dormers." They have fancy tops with brackets and pointed gables.
History of the House and Its Owner
The Moses Webster House was built in 1873. It was made for Moses Webster, a very important person in Vinalhaven. He was a leader in the island's successful granite industry.
Moses Webster and Granite
Moses Webster and Joseph R. Bodwell were key figures in the granite business. Both men came from New Hampshire in 1851. They helped expand the small granite quarries on Vinalhaven.
Their companies provided granite for many large buildings. These buildings were built along the Atlantic coast. The Bodwell Granite Company was very important to the island. Moses Webster was its president and co-owner. This company was the main part of Vinalhaven's economy until the early 1900s.
Later Years of the House
In the early 2010s, the Moses Webster House was used as a bed and breakfast. This means people could stay there overnight. In 2016, the house was put up for sale.
