Redwood (Bar Harbor, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Redwood
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Location | 10 Barberry Lane, Bar Harbor, Maine |
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Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
Built | 1879 |
Architect | William Ralph Emerson |
Architectural style | Shingle Style |
NRHP reference No. | 78000166 |
Added to NRHP | April 3, 1978 |
Redwood is a beautiful old summer house located at 10 Barberry Lane in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was designed by a famous architect named William Ralph Emerson and finished in 1879. This house was the very first "Shingle style" house built in Bar Harbor. It is also one of the oldest examples of this unique style in the entire country!
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is an important historical building that should be protected.
Contents
What Does Redwood Look Like?
Redwood is located near the southeastern part of Barberry Lane. It sits on a piece of land that looks out over Frenchman Bay.
The house is quite large, with two and a half stories. It is made of wood and has a shape that looks a bit like a cross. The house sits on a strong foundation made of fieldstone.
Special Features of the House
The house has parts that stick out towards the east (facing the water) and the west (facing the street).
- The part facing the street has a roof with a triangular shape, called a gable.
- Under this roof, there is a covered area for cars, called a porte-cochere. This area protects the main entrance.
- Next to the entrance, a tall window goes up two stories.
- You can also see a fancy brick chimney with many decorations.
The part of the house facing the water has a shape with many sides, like a polygon. Its roof is partly shaped like a pyramid.
On the south side of the house, there is a special window called a Palladian window. This type of window has three parts, with the middle part being taller. The upper part of this section has a "half-timbered" look, which means it has exposed wooden beams.
There is also a porch with many sides that sticks out from one corner. The inside of the house is very fancy, with lots of beautiful wooden details.
History of Redwood
In the 1860s, Bar Harbor started to become a popular place for summer vacations. At first, local people would let visitors stay in their homes. Soon, hotels were built to welcome more tourists.
Early Days and Design
By the 1870s, rich families began building their own private summer homes in Bar Harbor. C. J. Morrill, a wealthy person from Boston, hired William Ralph Emerson to design Redwood. The house was completed in 1879.
Redwood was the first house Emerson designed in the Bar Harbor area. It was also his first complete design in the "Shingle style." This style uses wooden shingles on the outside walls and roofs, making the house look like it's covered in scales. One of the very first Shingle style houses known is the 1875 William Watts Sherman House in Newport, Rhode Island. It was designed by H. H. Richardson.
Famous Visitors
Over the years, Redwood had several owners. One of them was J. Howland Auchincloss. His son, Louis Auchincloss, became a well-known writer.
In the 1940s, a young woman named Jacqueline Bouvier stayed at Redwood. She later became famous as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the wife of President John F. Kennedy. She stayed there with her stepfather, Hugh Auchincloss.