Sheepscot Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sheepscot Historic District
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The Sheepscot Community Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | At the confluence of Sheepscot River and Dyer Brook, Alna and Newcastle, Maine |
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| Area | 1,200 acres (490 ha) |
| Built | 1635 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000424 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1978 |
The Sheepscot Historic District is a special area in Alna and Newcastle, Maine. It's a historic village located where Dyer Brook flows into the Sheepscot River. This district covers about 1,200 acres (485 hectares).
What makes this place unique is how little it has changed over the last 100 years. It also includes one of the oldest roads in Maine! Experts believe this area was once home to Native American communities. Later, it became an early European settlement. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1978. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
What Makes Sheepscot Village Special?
The village of Sheepscot is located along a narrow part of the Sheepscot River. This river forms the border between the towns of Newcastle and Alna. Most of the village has many houses built close together. They are found along a very old road called The King's Highway.
This historic road runs south from Sheepscot Road in Newcastle. It's just south of where Dyer Creek meets the river. The Sheepscot Community Church stands near this important road junction. You can also find some homes on the Alna side of the river.
Architectural Styles You Can See
The buildings in Sheepscot show different styles of architecture from the 1800s. You can see:
- Federal style: This was popular in the early 1800s. Buildings often look balanced and simple.
- Greek Revival style: Popular in the mid-1800s, these homes look like ancient Greek temples. They often have columns.
- Italianate style: From the mid to late 1800s, these buildings often have wide eaves and tall, narrow windows.
A Look Back at Sheepscot's History
People have lived in the Sheepscot area for a very long time. Native Americans lived here before European settlers arrived. European settlements in this area date back to at least the 1630s, and maybe even the 1620s.
The Sheepscot area was located between two large land grants. One grant was bordered by the Kennebec River to the east. The other was bordered by the Damariscotta River to the west.
The first bridge across the Sheepscot River was built here in 1794. The bridge you see today is in almost the same spot as that very first one. This shows how important this crossing has been for centuries.
