The Gov. Israel Washburn House is a historic house at 120 Main Street in Orono, Maine. Built in 1840, it is architecturally significant as a fine local example of Greek Revival architecture, and is historically significant as the long-time home of Governor of Maine Israel Washburn, Jr. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]
Gov. Israel Washburn House | |
 The Gov. Israel Washburn House in June 2017 | |
   | |
| Location | 120 Main St., Orono, Maine |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°52′37″N 68°40′40″W / 44.87694°N 68.67778°W |
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Orono Main Street Historic District (ID77000082) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000144[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1973 |
| Designated CP | December 7, 1977 |
Description and history edit
The Washburn House is located on the east side of Main Street (United States Route 2), on a residential stretch of that road south of downtown Orono that is lined with 19th-century houses. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a front-gable roof, and a granite foundation. A two-story gabled wing extends northward from the rear of the main block, and there is a carriage house at the rear of the property. Most of the house is sheathed in clapboards; the front facade and the front-facing part of the wing are finished in flushboarding. The building corners are pilastered, supporting an entablature that rings the house. The front facade has a single-story porch supported by Doric columns, with a low balustrade above. The front facade of the wing has a projecting bay with paneled corners and full-height windows, and is also topped by a balcony with a similar balustrade. Windows on the ground floor of the main facade and south side are full length, with more standard-sized sash windows elsewhere. The entrance is in the left bay of the three-bay front, flanked by sidelight windows and pilasters. The interior retains period woodwork and hardware, including original oak floors with inlaid mahogany, and two fine black marble fireplaces.[2]
The house was built in 1840 by Israel Washburn, Jr., not long after his marriage, and was his home until 1863. Washburn was born into a politically prominent family, entered the legislature in 1851, and served two terms as Governor of Maine during the American Civil War. He was appointed Collector of the Port of Portland [1] by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, a post he held until his retirement in 1877. He is best known for his prominent and vocal stance against the expansion of slavery.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "NRHP nomination for Gov. Israel Washburn House". National Park Service. Retrieved May 2, 2015.