William Briggs Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
William Briggs Homestead
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Auburn, Maine |
|---|---|
| Built | 1797 |
| Architect | William Briggs |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000477 |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1986 |
The William Briggs Homestead is a very old farmhouse located at 1470 Turner Street in Auburn, Maine. It was built in 1797 by William Briggs, who was one of the first people to settle in this area. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Auburn today. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Exploring the Briggs Homestead
The Briggs Homestead sits in northern Auburn, near the corner of Turner and Church Streets. It's also just east of Lake Auburn. Turner Street used to be the main road through this area a long time ago. Today, a different road, Maine State Route 4, is the main route.
What the House Looks Like
The house is a wooden building with one main floor and a half-story attic. It has five windows across the front and a chimney in the middle. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard siding. The front of the house is very balanced, with the main door right in the center. This door has special decorations from the Federal period, including small windows on the sides and decorative pillars.
A smaller, one-story part of the house extends from the back. This part connects the house to a barn. Inside the house, you can still see many original wooden details. These include fancy trim, moldings, and wall panels. Even the old door handles and other hardware are still there, showing how well the house has been kept.
A Look Back in Time
Many people believe that the area around the Briggs Homestead was the very first place settled in what is now Auburn. This land was originally part of a town called Minot.
The property was first given to a man named Samuel Berry. He received it as a reward for his service in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec in 1775. This was a difficult journey during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1779, William Briggs bought the land from Samuel Berry. William Briggs came from Dighton, Massachusetts. He built this house around 1797. It is thought to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, houses in the "East Auburn" area.
