Salmon Falls (West) Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Salmon Falls (West) Historic District
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Salmon Falls Rd., Hollis, Maine |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1794 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001858 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 1987 |
The Salmon Falls (West) Historic District is a special area in Hollis, Maine. It has many old buildings that were built before 1840. These buildings are very well-preserved, meaning they are still in great shape! This district is located on the Hollis side of a small village called Salmon Falls.
This area is important not just for its old buildings. It's also famous because the writer Kate Douglas Wiggin lived here. Her home, called Quillcote, is part of the district. The Salmon Falls Library is also in this area. Kate Douglas Wiggin helped create this library in 1911. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's a place recognized for its important history.
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Exploring the Salmon Falls District
The Salmon Falls area is split between two towns: Buxton and Hollis. The Saco River runs right through it. This area started to grow in the late 1700s. It was mostly a farming community back then.
How the Village Grew
Later, in the early 1800s, small factories started to appear. These factories used the power of the river's waterfalls. That's how the village got its name, Salmon Falls!
The main road in the area was what is now Maine State Route 117. This road led north from the port of Saco. Most of the new buildings on the Buxton side of the village were built along this road.
Around 1794, one of the first settlers, Isaac Lane, paid to build a bridge. This bridge crossed the river near where United States Route 202 is today. The area continued to grow in the early 1800s. However, after that, its economy slowed down. This meant fewer new buildings were constructed.
What You'll See in the District
The historic district covers about 13 acres. It stretches along Salmon Falls Road. It starts north from where Salmon Falls Road meets US 202. The Salmon Falls Library is also included. It's on the south side of US 202.
The oldest houses in the district were built in the 1790s. These include the homes of Isaac Lane and Jabez Bradbury. Isaac Lane's house is a great example of a Federal style house. It's made of wood and is very well-kept.
Jabez Bradbury's house is now known as the Kate Douglas Wiggin House. It's also called "Quillcote." This house has been changed quite a bit over time. A Greek Revival style addition was built onto it.
Most of the other houses were built in the 1820s. They are usually one or two stories tall. They also show the Greek Revival style of architecture. There is one special brick house, the Moses Dunn House. It was built in the 1830s. This house has a beautiful view of the Saco River.
The Salmon Falls Library
The Salmon Falls Library is a very important building in the district. It's the only building that wasn't originally a home. It was built in the 1820s as a shop.
In 1911, Kate Douglas Wiggin and her sister, Nora Smith, changed it. They turned it into a kindergarten and a library.
Kate Douglas Wiggin: A Famous Author
Kate Douglas Wiggin was a very well-known writer. She wrote many popular books for children. She first visited the Salmon Falls area when she was a child.
In 1905, she bought the Jabez Bradbury House. This house was special to her because it was her stepfather's family home. She lived there for the rest of her life.
The library that she and her sister started was very important to them. After they passed away, they gave the library to the town.
