National Register of Historic Places

Means, Emily, House

South Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine
Listed
February 8, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85000242

About this property

The Emily Means House is a historic house on Birch Island in South Bristol, Maine. Built in 1914, it is a distinctive local example of Mediterranean Revival architecture, designed by New York architect Samuel Very. It was built for Emily Means, a nationally known horticulturalist. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Birch Island is a small island on the east side of Rutherford Island, which makes up the southernmost portion of the town of South Bristol. Birch Island is just northeast of the village of Christmas Cove, and is separated from the larger island by narrow channel, which is now spanned by a private bridge. The Emily Means House is set on the east side of Birch Island, overlooking Johns Bay. It is a two-story masonry structure, built out of terra cotta tile finished in smooth stucco, and covered by a tile hip roof. The roof has extended eaves with exposed rafters. The ground floor on the eastern (water-facing) side consists of a terrace with an arcade of rounded arches. The main entrance, located on the north side, is also set in a round-arch opening. The interior of the house is in an austere and restrained version of the Colonial Revival, and retains significant original woodwork. The house was built in 1914 as a summer residence for Emily Means, a nationally known horticulturalist. It was designed for her by New York City architect Samuel R.T. Very, and is distinctive within the small community for its Mediterranean styling. Means had purchased Birch Island in 1900, and planted extensive rock gardens with exotic specimens on the island. National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine

Location

South Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine
43.84942, -69.54876

Categories

CONSERVATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Means, Emily, House

This page lists Means, Emily, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Means, Emily, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Pemaquid Point Light
Industrial
2.3 mi
Fort William Henry
Early Republic
2.3 mi
Thompson Icehouse
Industrial
2.7 mi
Sprucewold Lodge
Industrial
3.6 mi
Pythian Opera House
Industrial
3.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Pemaquid Fort (First Fall)
1689Colonial
2.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Means, Emily, House listed on the National Register?

Means, Emily, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 8, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Means, Emily, House?

Means, Emily, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Means, Emily, House?

The period of significance for Means, Emily, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Means, Emily, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Means, Emily, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

Explore LincolnCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Means, Emily, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report