Thomas Skelton House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Skelton House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | 124 US 1, Falmouth, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1798 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000124 |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1973 |
The Thomas Skelton House is a very old house located at 124 United States Route 1 in Falmouth, Maine. It was built around 1798 in Portland. This house is a great example of the Federal style of building.
What makes it special is that it was moved to its current spot in 1971. This move saved it from being torn down! The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1973.
Discover the Thomas Skelton House
The Thomas Skelton House sits at the northern corner of Old US 1 and Gilsland Farm Road in southeastern Falmouth. It is a historic building with a fascinating story.
What Does It Look Like?
This house is two-and-a-half stories tall. It is made of wood and has five sections across its front. The roof slopes down on two sides, and there is a chimney in the middle. The outside walls are covered with wooden siding called clapboard. The base of the house is concrete, covered with bricks.
The house faces southeast. On the same property, there is also a garage and what used to be a barn for carriages. The main front door is in the center. It has flat columns on each side and a simple decorative piece above it.
Inside, many of the original plaster walls and wooden details are still there. The house has a typical design where the main chimney is in the middle. When you walk in, there is a narrow winding staircase that goes up to the second floor. To the left is a living room, and to the right is the kitchen. Behind the chimney, there is a long, narrow room. A newer addition has been built at the back, where the modern kitchen is now located.
A House on the Move: Its History
The Thomas Skelton House was built around 1798 by Thomas Skelton. He was a house builder from Portland. The house first stood on Pleasant Street in Portland.
When it was first built, it was only one-and-a-half stories tall. The second story was added around 1810. This was about the time its owner, Benjamin Deake, got married.
In 1971, the house was in danger of being torn down. To save it, the Greater Portland Landmarks Commission carefully recorded all its details. Then, the entire building was moved to its current location in Falmouth. After the move, it was carefully restored. Today, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings from Portland.
