Skolfield–Whittier House facts for kids
The Skolfield–Whittier House is a special museum in Brunswick, Maine. It's like a "time capsule" because it looks almost exactly as it did during the Victorian era, a long time ago. This house is managed by the Pejepscot Historical Society and shows us what life was like for a wealthy family in the 1800s.
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The Skolfield Family Home
The Skolfield–Whittier House is part of a large building that looks like two homes joined together. This style is called Italianate. It was built between 1858 and 1862 for the sons of a rich shipbuilder named Master George Skolfield.
Captain Alfred Skolfield (1815–1895) owned the side that is now the museum. He shared the building cost with his brother, Captain Samuel Skolfield. Samuel lived in the other half, which is now the Pejepscot Historical Society office.
In 1862, Alfred, his wife Martha Harward, and their young daughter Eugenie moved into their new home. They filled it with fancy furniture from Portland, Maine. Much of this furniture is still there today. Many rooms also have beautiful marble fireplaces and stylish curtains. Back then, the house was probably lit by gaslight. In 1864, Martha had another daughter, Augusta Marie.
Living in England
In 1867, Alfred moved his family to Liverpool, England. We don't know exactly why they moved. It might have been because of political disagreements in the United States after the Civil War. The Skolfields were Democrats, and their home area was mostly Republican.
Even though they moved, they didn't sell their Brunswick home. Instead, they rented it out to different people. They lived in England for 18 years.
Returning to Brunswick
In 1885, the Skolfields came back to their home in Brunswick. They started making changes right away! They updated the plumbing system. They also changed the old carriage house (where horses and carriages were kept) and connected it to the main house. This new space became the kitchen, an informal dining room, and a laundry room.
The old kitchen became a formal dining room. The old dining room was turned into a drawing room, which was a fancy living room.
The family bought many new decorations in England. These included carpets, a piano, and paintings. They also bought new furniture in a popular style called Eastlake. The Skolfields even separated the bathtub and toilet into two different rooms, which was common in England. In 1891, the house got electricity. Around 1894–1895, it was connected to the town's new sewer lines.
The Whittier Family Life
Alfred Skolfield passed away in 1895. Soon after, his daughter Eugenie married Frank Whittier (1861–1924) in the drawing room. Frank was a very smart student from Bowdoin College. He became a doctor in 1889. He taught about diseases and tiny living things at Maine Medical School.
Frank Whittier was also Maine's first forensic pathologist. This means he used science to help solve mysteries related to deaths. He was also the first medical examiner for Cumberland County. He even developed new ways to test blood and identify guns based on their bullets.
Frank and Eugenie didn't change the house much. Frank added a tall grandfather clock to the entrance. Around 1910–1912, they moved their main bedroom to the former carriage house. The old master bedroom became the library. By 1913, a telephone was installed in the home.
Eugenie and Frank had three daughters: Isabel, Alice, and Charlotte. Sadly, Charlotte died at a young age due to an accident in the kitchen. Isabel and Alice both went to college. Isabel became a teacher, and Alice became Maine's first female pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in children's health.
After Frank died in 1924, Eugenie loved to travel. She and her daughters usually only spent summers at their Brunswick home. In 1982, Alice, who was the last family member living, gave the entire house and everything inside it to the Pejepscot Historical Society. Today, you can visit the museum for guided tours during the summer.
