Redington Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Redington House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 62 Silver St., Waterville, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1814 |
| Built by | Redington, Asa |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000180 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1978 |
The Redington Museum, also known as the Redington House, is a special old house in Waterville, Maine. It's not just a house; it's also a museum! This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important landmark.
The house was built way back in 1814. It's one of the oldest and best-kept houses from that time in Waterville. Since 1924, it has been the main office and museum for the Waterville Historical Society. The Redington House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. You can even find it listed on Maine's official tourism website!
Contents
Visiting the Redington Museum
The Redington Museum is open for visitors during the summer months. You can usually visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
There are specific times for tours: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Sometimes, the people who work there might let you in at other times. It's a good idea to plan your visit as if you have an appointment.
There is a small fee for adults aged 18 and older. Kids aged 17 and younger can visit for free if they come with an adult. The museum is located at 62 Silver Street in Waterville. It's just a short walk south of the downtown area.
What You Can See Inside
The Redington Museum gives you a great look at what life was like in New England and Waterville over the past 200 years. It's like stepping back in time!
Inside, you'll find many interesting collections. There's old furniture, accessories, and items people used in their homes. You can also see old toys, tools, and even weapons. The museum also has historical papers and diaries that tell stories from the past.
The main building is designed in a style called "Federal architecture." The Waterville Historical Society takes care of the museum. It's set up like a historic house with furniture from the past. There are also exhibits about the Waterville area. You can even see a replica of an old pharmacy building nearby.
The museum is a two-story white house with wooden shingles. It opened as a museum in 1927. The exhibits show old furniture and interesting items from the 1800s. The Waterville Historical Society keeps its collection of old books and handwritten papers at the museum. They also have a collection of rare old maps of the area. These maps are available for people who want to do research.
History of the Redington House
The Redington House is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and two brick chimneys inside. The outside is covered with clapboard siding, and it sits on a granite foundation. The front of the house has five window sections. The main door is in the middle and has a porch over it. This porch has fancy columns and a wooden railing. Inside, many of the original features are still there. There are also some wooden additions at the back of the house that were built later.
Who Was Asa Redington?
The museum is located in a house built in 1814 by an important early settler of Waterville named Asa Redington. Asa Redington was a brave soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War three times. He was even part of George Washington's special Honor Guard!
After the American victory against the English, Asa Redington helped develop the water power at Ticonic Falls. With his sons, Samuel and William, he started a successful flour mill on the banks of the Kennebec River. Asa had six sons and three daughters. He built this large house especially for his son, William.
The house was made with big, strong wooden beams, all put together by hand with wooden pegs. You can still see the original spiral staircase and fireplaces with their old woodwork. The floors are made of wide "pumpkin pine" wood.
Look closely at the newel post (the main post at the bottom of the staircase) in the entrance. You'll see a small, smooth, polished stone called the "contractor's peace stone." In olden times, this stone meant that the building project was finished, and both the owner and the builder were happy with the work.
Today, five rooms in the museum are filled with antique furniture from the late 1700s and early 1800s. These items belonged to the Redington family, the family of an early lawyer named Timothy Boutelle, and the family of another Revolutionary War veteran, Jabez Mathews. Other items came from other early families in the area.
The house stayed in the Redington family until 1924. That year, Mrs. William Redington gave the house to the Waterville Historical Society. The society now uses it as their main office and museum.
See also
