Nicholas P. Clase House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nicholas P. Clase House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Station Rd. near Capitol Hill Rd., New Sweden, Maine |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Maine Swedish log house |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001699 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 1989 |
The Nicholas P. Clase House is a historic home located in New Sweden, Maine. It was built in 1874 by Nicholas P. Clase, who was a Swedish immigrant. This house is special because it's one of the few log homes left in Maine that were built using traditional Swedish methods. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, recognizing its important history.
A Special Log House
The Clase House is a unique building made mostly of logs. It has 1-1/2 stories and sits on a strong stone foundation. The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards called weatherboard.
What the House Looks Like
The front of the house faces south and has a porch. This porch is held up by five log posts, which adds to its rustic charm. Two narrow chimneys rise from the center of the roof.
Originally, a wooden addition was built onto the main log house before 1908. This part also had weatherboard. It had extra doors, including one that led to a barn that is no longer there.
How the House Was Built
Nicholas P. Clase built the main part of this house around 1874. He was one of the very first Swedish immigrants to arrive in New Sweden in 1870. The state government encouraged people to move to this area. They offered each family 100 acres (about 40 hectares) of land and a log house built by the state.
However, Clase's house is different from the standard state-provided homes. It was built using special Swedish construction techniques. This suggests that he might have built his own unique home shortly after arriving. The house has stayed in the Clase family for many years.
