Samuel Bucknam House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Samuel Bucknam House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. 1, Columbia Falls, Maine, United States |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1820 |
| Architect | Sherman, Aaron |
| Architectural style | Cape |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000203 |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 1978 |
The Samuel Bucknam House is a very old and special house located on Main Street in Columbia Falls, Maine, United States. It was built a long time ago, between 1820 and 1821. This house is considered one of the best examples of a "Federal-period Cape house" in Maine.
What makes it so special? It has amazing old wooden details and even original wallpaper in one of its rooms! Because of its historical importance, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting for future generations.
Contents
What Does the Samuel Bucknam House Look Like?
The Bucknam House is a classic "Cape house" style. It has one and a half stories and is made of wood. The front of the house is wide with five sections, called "bays." It has a roof that slopes down on the sides, known as a "gable roof." The outside walls are covered with "clapboard" siding, which are long, thin boards. The house sits on a strong foundation made of granite.
Special Features of the House's Design
The front of the house faces northwest. The main entrance is in the middle. Above the door, there's a beautiful wooden fan shape. On the sides of the door, there are flat, column-like decorations called "pilasters." These pilasters have cool carved designs of wooden urns at the top.
A part of the house, called an "ell," sticks out to the northeast. This part likely holds the kitchen. Both the main house and the ell have chimneys. These chimneys have unique arched brick covers at the very top.
Inside the Samuel Bucknam House
Step inside, and you'll see even more amazing details. The house has very fancy woodwork. This includes "beaded moldings" (decorative strips with small round bumps), "friezes" (decorated bands along the walls), and beautiful fireplace mantels. Even the frames around the doors are specially carved. One of the most interesting things is that the main living room still has its original wallpaper from when the house was first built!
Who Was Samuel Bucknam?
Samuel Bucknam was the person who had this house built in 1820-1821. He came from an important family in Columbia Falls. His grandfather, John Bucknam, was one of the very first people to settle in the area. John Bucknam started a lumber mill, which cut wood, and then a shipyard, which built boats, on the Pleasant River.
Samuel Bucknam likely took over his grandfather's successful businesses. This meant he had enough money to build such a high-quality house. It was quite impressive to build such a fancy home in an area that was still pretty remote back then.
