The Norlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Norlands & The Washburns
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The Norlands mansion in August 2010. Part of the farmer's cottage reconstruction can be seen on the right
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 290 Norlands Rd., Livermore, Maine |
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| Built | 1821 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000004 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1969 |
The Norlands, also known as the Israel Washburn Homestead, is a special historic building in Livermore, Maine. It was once the home of Israel Washburn and his family. Today, it helps people learn about life in the 1800s.
Contents
Exploring the Norlands Living History Center
The Norlands is more than just a house; it's a place where history comes alive! It's part of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center. This center shows what a farm was like in the 1800s.
What You Can See at Norlands
The main building, the Norlands mansion, was built in 1821. It has a unique style called Gothic Revival. The center also includes:
- A schoolhouse from the mid-1800s
- A library with interesting facts about the Washburn family
- A meeting house
- A farmer's cottage
- A barn with farm animals
The Norlands was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This means it's an important place to protect and remember.
A Fire at the Norlands Farm
In April 2008, a fire broke out at the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center. It likely started when a lamp tipped over and fell into some hay, causing it to catch fire.
How Firefighters Saved Norlands
Volunteer firefighters were ready for such an event. They quickly worked to put out the flames. Ten other fire departments also came to help. Thanks to their quick actions, the main Norlands mansion was saved.
Langhorne Washburn, who was born at Norlands and is a descendant of the family, praised the firefighters. He said, "Thank God Norlands didn’t burn. I would like to commend (the firefighters) on their efficiency."
Rebuilding After the Fire
Even though the main house was safe, the barn and the farmer's cottage were damaged by the fire. It took several years to rebuild these parts of the farm. The farmer's cottage was rebuilt and opened again in early 2011. The barn was also reconstructed to look like it did a long time ago.
People Connected to Norlands
- Ethel Wilson Gammon: She was the person who started the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center and was its first leader.
