Tufts House (Farmington, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tufts House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Farmington, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1810 |
| Architect | Tufts, Francis |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000130 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1979 |
The Tufts House is a really old and special house in Farmington, Maine. It was built way back in 1810. This house is important because it's one of the few brick buildings from that time in the area. It's also a great example of the beautiful Federal style of architecture. The Tufts House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.
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Exploring the Tufts House
The Tufts House is located on United States Route 2 in Farmington. It sits a bit southeast of the town center. The house is a two-and-a-half story building. It is mostly made of bricks laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. This pattern makes the bricks look very neat and strong.
What the House Looks Like
The very top parts of the house, called the gable ends, are made of wood. These parts are covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards. The roof has a pointed shape, known as a side gable roof. There are chimneys on each side of the house.
The front of the house faces south. It has five windows and doors lined up evenly. The main entrance is right in the middle. It is set inside a curved opening. Above the door, there's a semi-oval window called a transom. This window lets light into the entryway. The wood carvings around the door are very detailed and pretty. The roof's edge has a decorative trim called dentil moulding. This moulding looks like a row of small blocks, similar to teeth.
History of the Tufts House
The Tufts House was built in 1810 by a man named Francis Tufts. He was a hero from the American Revolutionary War. Francis Tufts came from Medford, Massachusetts. He was one of the first people to own land in Farmington.
Francis Tufts: A Pioneer
Francis Tufts first moved to the Farmington area in 1780. He lived in a simple log house at first. In 1781, he built a frame house. Later, in 1790, he helped buy the land that became the town of Farmington. He also owned one of the first mills in the area.
Francis Tufts built this special brick house in 1810. People say the bricks were made from clay found right by the Sandy River. This river is very close to the house.
How the House Has Stayed the Same
The Tufts House looks almost exactly as it did when it was first built. Not much has changed over the years. The only big change was replacing the windows. This house is a really great example of Federal architecture. It's quite amazing to find such a beautiful and well-preserved house in a rural area like Farmington.
