Chapman-Hall House
National Register of Historic Places

Chapman-Hall House

Damariscotta, Lincoln County, Maine
Listed
May 18, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
70000077

About this property

The Chapman-Hall House is a historic house museum at 270 Main Street in Damariscotta, Maine. Built in 1754 by one of the area's first permanent white settlers, it is the oldest standing house in the town, and one of the oldest in the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The Chapman-Hall House stands at the eastern end of Damariscotta's downtown area, northwest of the corner of Main, Church, and Vine Streets. It is a single-story wood frame Cape style house, its exterior finished in unpainted wooden shingles. It has a side gable roof with a large central chimney. The main facade is five bays wide, with simple trim surrounding its windows and door, the latter topped by a four-light transom window. The interior features exposed beams, paneled fireplaces, and period plasterwork, and underwent a major restoration in the 1960s, when it first became a museum. The Damariscotta area was first settled in the 17th century, but permanent settlement did not begin until 1748 due to repeated conflicts with Native Americans. This house was built in 1754 by Nathaniel Chapman, a housewright and half-brother of the area's first permanent settler, Anthony Chapman. Both were natives of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Nathaniel was convinced to come here by his brother to build houses for the early settlers. Nathaniel Chapman at one time owned all of the area that is now downtown Damariscotta. In 1960, the house was rescued from demolition by local citizens group, and restored to its 18th-century appearance under the guidance of preservationist Abbott Lowell Cummings. It has served since then as a museum property, since 2008 by the Lincoln County Historical Association. National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine

Location

Damariscotta, Lincoln County, Maine
44.03255, -69.52924

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.1 mi
Damariscotta Baptist Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Coffin, Stephen, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Main Street Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
St. Andrew's Church
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Pemaquid (1696)
1696Colonial
7.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chapman-Hall House listed on the National Register?

Chapman-Hall House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 18, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Chapman-Hall House?

Chapman-Hall House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chapman-Hall House?

The period of significance for Chapman-Hall House is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1754.

Can I research the history near Chapman-Hall House?

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