SAGADAHOC PRESERVATION, INC.Box 322, Bath, Maine 04530

E-mail: join@sagadahocpreservation.orgwww.sagadahocpreservation.org

207-443-2174

NewsletterSPISAGADAHOC

PRESERVATION, INC.P.O. Box 322Bath, ME 04530.

❐ $20Single❐ $35Family❐ $50Patron

❐Renewal

Iwishtovolunteer:❐Preservation❐Development❐WinterStreetCenter❐House&WalkingTours❐HousePlaqueResearch

SAGADAHOC PRESERVATION, INC.

r$100Sponsor❐ $20Nonprofit❐ $50Business

❐NewMember

❐Education❐Development❐Membership❐Newsletter/Publicity❐Website

www.sagadahocpreservation.orgjoin@sagadahocpreservation.org

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Est. 1971

The

For one year’s membership, clip and send to:SPI, P.O. Box 322, Bath, ME 04530. Please makechecks payable to Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc.

Name:_______________________________________

Address:_____________________________________

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Summer 2011

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SPI’s 9th Annual House Tour - June 11, 2011

Trustees and Officers: CarolynLockwood,President(term expiring 2011)SueFitzgerald,VicePres.(term expiring 2011)BevReynolds,Secretary(term expiring 2011)JohnMarsh,Treasurer(term expiring 2011)

Terms expiring 2012 BonnieBeckSallyDeMartiniRooDunnMarnieHackenbergAmyHranickyMichaelKnudsenJohnMarsh

Terms expiring 2013JudithBarringtonTinaGoodmanRussellMayloneJaneMorseBeverlyReynoldsCarolStergioCalStilphen

Past PresidentPattySampleColwell

Terms expiring 2011SueFitzgeraldCurtisHendersonArthurJensky

Finance Committee ChairPaulSkydell

OurNinthAnnualHouseTourbeganFridayeve-ningwitha“MeetandGreet”partyforthecommittee,thehomeowners,andthedocentstomeetourhonorarychair,Emmyawardwinning “ThisOldHouse”TVpersonality Steve Thomas, who began the Tour daywithanillustratedlectureatGraceEpiscopalChurchat8:30a.m.Saturday.Mr.Thomasthenjoinedtheactualtourthatstartedat10:30andendedat3:30.Ticketholdersandownerswereabletochatwithhimandaskquestions regarding the restoration and preservationofolderhomes.WeareindebtedtoSPImemberTomPagnottiforsettingupandmanagingthecontractandvisitwithMr.Thomas.

AlsonewthisyearwastheadditionofDownEastMagazine to share corporate sponsorship with BathSavingsInstitution.DownEastsponsoredadsintheirMayandJune issuesaswellas sponsoringthehousetour.TheyalsosponsoredabooksigningatthePovichhomesteadbytwoMaineauthorsduringthetour.ManythanksgotoBevReynolds,ourHouseTourChairforworkingwithDownEasttomakeourBathHouseTouranationalattraction.

We enlarged our ticket brochure into a 30 pagebookletcompletewithafullcolorcoverandafullcolormid-sectionwithadvertisingandsponsorshipsforeachsite.KennebecArtClubmemberssketchedandpaintedscenesofthehousesandgardensontheTour;severaloftheseworkswerereproducedasnotecards,whichSPIhasavailableforsale.ThankstothetirelesseffortsoftheHouseTourCommitteeandthemanydocents,ourninthtourwasagreatsuccess.Forthoseofyouwhomissed it,hereare thehousedescriptionswritten fortheprogrambytrusteeemeritusGerardDorian.Thenumbereddescriptionsbeginwith#2,as#1isWinterStreetCenterthatweallknowandlove(seemap).

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You can download an application form at our websitewww.sagadahocpreservation.org or call 207-443-2174.Cost: $55.00 for members, or $70.00 for nonmembers,which includes a $20.00 one year membership in SPI. Please make checks payable to: Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc. Send request and check to: SagadahocPreservation,Inc. Attention:HOUSEPLAQUE, P.O.Box322, Bath,ME04530

Your House Here..Significant Owner(s) and/or Builder/Architect - Year Built

Recycle your Bottles for SPI

SPI Houseplaques

SPI Summer Activities-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-

Winter Street Happenings

Please take your returnable bottles and cans to the Bath Redemption Center at 786 Middle Street in Bath. The nickels really add up. So far this year we have col-lected over $300. You just have to tell an employee that you would like to donate some or all of your nickels to SPI’s Winter Street Center. There is a sheet on the wall where they will write your donation and every so often we will pick up the $$. These funds really help with petty cash items such as paper towels, toilet paper, plas-tic bags, dishwasher soap, cleaning and office supplies... not to mention vacuum cleaner repair, rug and chair cleaning and other small equipment items.

This year SPI had at least four people participating in the Bath Heritage Days Parade. At the bottom, Judi Mansfield waves from a Bodwell Jeep driven by our presi-dent Carolyn Lockwood. Judi was honored by SPI for all the volunteer work she has done for our organization over the years. Not only was she secretary for many years but she is still very active on the education committee and is a house model maker par excellence. If you look closely you can see the model of a Queen Anne house located on Washington Street attached to the roof of the jeep.

Always a crowd pleaser, Trustee Mike Knudsen with his monkey plays the organ in the back of an antique truck owned and driven by SPI member Tom Edwards.

Left: Dot McKenna is being served a hearty portion by helper Phil Reynolds, while Anne Marsh is serving an-other hungry customer at our second “Blues and ‘Que” barbeque in August. Right: I’d say trustee Tina Goodman’s son Nathan has one comment. “I’m satisfied!”

Restorationandpreservationofthesteepleisneverfinisheditseems.Theinstallationofthelightningrodonthetopthisspringwasnotthefinalproject.ThissummertheCoppertopsCompanyfromBrunswickcompletedthefinalrepairswherethesteeplemeetstheroof(SeePhoto).Wehopethatthisisthelastmajorrepairtobemadesowemaygoontootherprojects.Anewoutsidesignisintheworks,hopefullytobeerectedbytheannualmeetingonOctober22nd.WearealsolookingintoreplacingtherugintheDianeC.FrancisRoom.Ithasseenalotofwearandtearinthelasttenyears.Oureventplanner,DebbyHayden,isinchargeofpickingoutacarpetthatwillstanduptoheavywearandyetbecompatiblewiththeperiodoftheroom.

SPI ANNUAL MEETING

Celebrate 40 years

of

Preservation History

at SPI’s Annual Meeting

Saturday Evening

October 22, at 5:30 p.m.

Winter Street Center880 Washington Street

Join us for a Special Program

and Annual Awards

Drinks & Light Refreshments

SPIhadaveryfullsummerwithourmostsuccessfulHouseTour,participationinBathHeritageDays,Blues&'Que,manyweddings,partiesandmeetings.I’dliketothankallofthehomeownerswhosograciouslyopenedtheirpersonalspacestothecommunityfortheHouseTourandthemanyvolunteerswhospentmonthsassistingourHouseTourChair,BevReynolds,withplanning,coordinating,andcollaborating.Bevdeserveskudosforpullingoffthisverycomplicatedeventandmakingitlookeasy.

ThankyoutoallofyouwhosupportedSPIintheNationalTrust's"ThisPlaceMattersCommunityChallenge".Unfortunately,wedidnotwin--theNewportCountyPreservationSocietyplacedfirst,winningmoneytorestore"TheBreakers"!--butwedidfinishinthetophalfoftheclass,thankstoyoureffortsinrecruitingfriendsandfamilytovoteforWinterStreet.AndthankyouverymuchtoallofyouwhosupportedSPIbycontributingtoourFortiethFundtohelprestoretheformersanctuary.

PleasevisittheSPItableatCommunityInvolvementDayonSaturday,October8th,inWaterfrontPark,andpleasejoinusatourAnnualMeetingonSaturday,October22nd,andatourfirstlectureoftheseasononThursday,November3rd.CelebratePreservation.ComecelebrateSPI's40thAnniversaryatourAnnualMeeting.

Carolyn Lockwood, President

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Trustees John Marsh and Judy Barrington the day of

the tour taking care of credit card purchases.

From left to right: SPI President, Carolyn Lockwood;

Honorary Chair, Steve Thomas; Joanne Parry, Homeowner

House Tour Chair, Bev ReynoldsSPI member, Jane Morse.

Photos courtesy of John James

DREAMLAND THEATER Winter Street Center, 880 Washington St., Bath

FMI sagadahocpreservation.orgMovies are on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the Month. Shorts, serials and cartoons begin at 6 pm, films at 7 pm.

Suggested donation is $5. Movies are graciously provided by River Bottom Video. A free rental is raffled with each film.

Scenes from the Friday Evening House Tour “Meet and Greet” Party

Kathryn and Richard Klingaman21 Bowery Street

The Customs HouseOne Front Street

As Front Street curves gently into Bowery, a largeclapboard and shingle style house seems to crowd theroadway and is poised on the edge of a cliff, but neverfear. The house rests there solidly, supported by a brickand concrete foundation created by the Texas SteamshipCompany inbuilding steeloil tankersduringWorldWarOne.Infact,youwillseethemassivefoundationbeneathyouasyoudescend theglass stairway to the lowerfloors.Thereisalsoalook,notusual,ofahousebeingbuilttoday:theblacksteelroof,fewwindows,buttherunofthemonthepeak—actuallycopyingthefactoryfenestrationpreviouslyoccupyingthesite.

Once through the recessed frontdoor,youwillfindthat thehall separatesathree-baygaragefromthemastersuite.Thebedroom is ratherOriental indécorwithShojiscreens--also Kathryn’s doll collection. A balcony 55 feetabovethegroundfaceseastwardtowardtheKennebecRiverbelow.Thereisawalk-throughdressingroompaneledwitharomaticcedar,granitebathandopenshower.

Rooms open up once you have descended the glassstaircase: the living room with a fireplace with a greatstone mantel, studies, dining room, kitchen with an Agastove,thentoaconservatoryintheEnglishmanner,andanentrancetoaterracewithagreatroughstonestaircasetothestreet,andentrancetothewalkwaysinthefive-acreparkontheKennebecRiver.

imitating the façade of the house with sidelights. Turn left into the dining room. Note the unusual pattern of the corner blocks of the windows and doors in the dining room which have a cross design. This is a large room of many uses—a golden table and chairs made of pressed oak. Throughout the rooms are objects that bring memories of generations past. Step down into Gerry’s sunken den. It is a dark paneled room, the repository of Gerry’s hunting trophies (he is a certified Maine guide) three deer heads, two bear and many other Maine forest denizens. Proceed back out from the den and enter a hall to your left to the panelled oak kitchen remodeled by The Kennebec Company. Gail and Gerry have opened up this room from smaller ones. Step into the sitting room and take a peek at the sun room/office. Please exit by the side door.

ThisformalgranitebuildingwasbuilttobetheUnitedStatesCustomsHouseandPostOffice.Designedin1852byAmmiBurnhamYoung,thefirstSupervisingArchitectof the U.S. Treasury Department, it was completed in1858. In 1975 when a new post office was built, it wasacquiredbythecityofBath,andnowisleasedtotenants.The building rests on land which earlier had housed themansionofthefirstGovernorofMaine,WilliamKing.Hehadbeenashipbuilderwithhisshipyardandwharfjusteastofhismansionwhichsatinapark-likesettingofgardensand orchards. Upon Governor King’s death, the federalgovernment acquired the property to build the CustomsHouse, an important building in this busy shipbuildingandshippingcity.

Thebuildinghasbeencalled“oneofthemostclassicalItalianate structures erected in mid-nineteenth centuryAmerica”anditislistedontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces and in the Historic American Buildings Survey,which notes its elegant proportions, classical detailingandhighlevelofmasonrycraftsmanship.Originallyonlythreebays(wallsections)deep,thebuildingwasenlargedbycarefullytakingdowntherearwall,extendingthesidewallsbyabouttwo-fifthsandthenre-erectingtheoriginalrearwall.Standonthelawnonthenorthsideandseeifyoucan tellwhere this extensionbegins! Quoinsmountevery corner of the building’s exterior walls. Inside themainhall, the ceiling (newlypainted) rises17 feet. TheceilingisvaultedbyparallelbrickarchessupportedbyironI-beamssetintothemasonryorbycast-ironcolumns;thiswas themost technically advancedfireproof constructionmethodofthetime.Thestairwaytothesecondfloorwasalsobuiltofcastironwithironbalustersandamahoganybanister. Note themahoganydoors toofficesandto theKennebecCompany,whichhasdoubledoors. Inoneoftheofficeson the secondfloor is aonehundredyearoldwalk-insafe—maybeasecretcompartmenttoo.

Gayle Hunt, owner of Ornament and house tour sponsor, looking at artwork from the Kennebec Art Club.

Historic Wallpaper Lecture - November 3rd

On November 3rd, Richard Nylander will presentan illustrated lecture on Historic Wallpaper at theWinterStreetCenter.FormerlytheChiefCuratorandDirector ofCollections atHistoric NewEngland,Mr.Nylander helped to build its extensive collection ofperiodwallpapers. Heisaninternationallyrecognizedauthority on historic wallpapers and has written andlectured widely on the subject, as well as organizingseveralexhibitions. HeistheauthorofWallpapers for

Historic Buildings, a compendium of more than 1,000examplesofwallpaperdesignsfrom1700to1900,whichisthestandardtextforchoosingreproductionwallpapers.Hisbookhasgonethroughtwoeditions,andin2005,wasreissuedinajointvolumewithFabrics forHistoric Buildings,whichcoversfabrictypesanddesignsusedintheUnitedStates between 1650 and 1900, and which was writtenby his wife Jane Nylander, Director Emerita of HistoricNewEngland (formerly the Society for the PreservationofNewEnglandAntiquities). Mr.Nylanderhas servedsince1990ontheCommitteeforthePreservationoftheWhiteHouse,wherehehasparticipatedintheextensiverefurbishmentoftheBlueRoom,theStateDiningRoom,andtheLincolnBedroom.

Thelecturewillbeginat7P.M.andwillbefollowedby refreshments. Admission is free, but donations areappreciated.Formoreinformation,call443-2174.

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GeneMolllivesinaGreekRevivalstylehouseat1043Washington Street and Pearl Street where she and herhusbandEd raised six children. Its gable end faces southat right angles to the street, and the front door is located

ThishouseisintheGreekRevivalstyle,builtin1843byJohnB.andCatherineW.R.Swanton.JohnSwantonalongwithZinaHydeandWilliamD.SewallalsobuilttheSweden-borgianChurchoftheNewJerusalemnextdoorin1843.ThehouseaccommodatedtheSwantons’sevenchildrenandalive-instaffofservants.Theellonthenorthsidehousedthefamilyentrance,diningroom,andkitchen.Thechildren’sbedroomswereonthesecondfloor.Theellonthebackofthehousewasusedforstoragebelowandstaffbedroomsabove.

Thegableendofthehouse,intheGreektemplestyle,has a pediment supportedby tall cornerpilasterswithnocapitals.The windows are six over six, on the main floorcrowned with a shallow pediment, some faux or blind,framedonly.Attheentrancethefinegranitestepsbifurcate,onesettothecompanyentrance,theothertothefamilyone.The frontdoorhas sidelights and a transomwith coloredglassandacenterpanelwithavaseandflowersinBohemianglass. Inside, the central hall contains a grandmahoganystaircasetotheupperrooms.Offthesidehallareaparlorandadiningroomwithfurnishingsevocativeofthespiritandageofthehouse.BeyondisanewkitchendesignedbyTheKennebecCompany.TheSpriggshave createdamodernhomeinthisoldhousewithgreatsensitivity.

toonesideunderacolumnedporch.Notethesixoversixwindows andbroad trim. It was built by JohnHughes, aship’sjoiner,in1843.HissonGeorgewasaBathhighschoolprincipalandonetimemayorofthecity.Thediningroomandkitchenellarefromamuchearlier1800’shousewhichoriginallyfrontedonPearlStreet.Gene’sgardenfillseverybitofgroundbetweenthenorthandeastsidesofthebuilding.EnterfromtheWashingtonStreetsidebetweentheporchandthewallofshrubbery,attheendofwhichthegardenspreadsbeforeyou.Geneusesnopesticidesorherbicidesonherlawn.ElizabethCompton,who has a small gardening business, helps Gene in thegarden.Notethepairofgardenobelisksandothergardendécor throughout. There are trees–from the ubiquitousredswampmaple,spruce,andholly,totheJapanesepine.Shrubsincludepurplelilacs,euonymus,bridalwreathandaboxwood,whichGenegrewfromacuttingwhenshewasastudentatWellesleyCollege.Fruittreesincludeacherrytree,peachtreeandappletrees.Manyflowerssuchasglobethistle,astilbe,iris,poppiesandpeoniesabound, allsuitablefora19thcenturygarden.

Connie and Bob Sprigg888 Middle Street

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Joanne Parry937 Middle Street

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The Povich Family Homestead327 Front Street

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Lynn and Dugan Shipway997 Washington Street

Gene Moll1043 Washington Street

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Gail and Gerry Pepin1083 Washington Street

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When this house was built in the 1840’s it faced Washington Street, but in 1940, it was purchased by W.S. “Pete” Newell, president of the Bath Iron Works. Because the house was blocking easy access to his garage, he rotated it 45 degrees to where it sits today, still with a Washington Street address. This house was built in the Greek Revival style but still has elements of the earlier Federal style which are reflected by the balanced façade and center doorway with five windows above. The Greek Revival elements are in the sidelights on either side of the front door and the heavy trim. There is a wide band of trim under the low-pitched roof, the frieze band, and on the vertical corners of the walls, the trim is called pilasters. Together they are called the entablature.

Upon entering the front door, you will step into a staircase hall, which is a gem, with a mahogany banister, exiting in a tight curve up the staircase to the second floor. Looking back you will see the front doorway is encased,

The gable end of this Greek Revival house faces thestreet.Thegableisenclosedandthetriangulareffectisremi-niscentofthepedimentofaGreektemple,usualinthisstyle.Tall six over six windows are made to look even taller bygranitelintelsandsills.Thefoundationisofdressedgranite.Theverythin layerofmortarbetweenthebricksgivesthehousealookofsolidbrick,verynice.Theentranceisonthe

southside.Granitestepsleadtotheporch,columnssupport-ingtheentablature.

Inside,onthestaircasewallofthehallisasculpturedlowreliefofa“putto”withwingsridingonthebackofadolphinwhileblowingahorn.Thepineappleinthedesignisasymbolofhospitality.Pocketdoorsseparatethetwoparlors,ifdesired.Picturemoldingsonthewallsemphasizetheirheight.Someroomsinthehouserevealawayoflifelonggone,othersareverypracticaltoday.Sinceourlasttour,alargesoakingtubhasbeenaddedtothemasterbathroomupstairs.Underthemodernkitchenistheoriginalkitchenatthegardenlevel.

Offthegardenroomisadeck,anddownbelow,acop-per-domedpavilionissupportedbyacircleofcolumns.Fartherdown,attheedgeofthegarden,whenthepassengertraingoesby,passengerssometimeswavetothemembersofthefamily.

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Thisfromthe Bath Independent May22,1897:“With-outadoubtoneofthemostdelightfulresidencesinBathisthehouseofMayor[Randall]BibberonFrontStreet.Fromthe broad piazza which semi-circles the dwelling one canenjoytheKennebecfromtheReachtotheNarrows.” It isfortunate forus today that theexteriorand interiorof thishouseintheQueenAnnestyleisstillstandingasitwasbuiltthankstothePovichFamilywhopurchaseditin1927.Notethefrontgableandentryporch,thegenerousdoorandlat-ticedsidewindowsasyouenter intothegreathallwith itsgrandstairwaysweepingtothesecondfloor.Youwillfindthehouseisfilledwithlightandroomsseparatedbypartialwallsforconversation, reading,eating: sofas, easychairs,and teatables.Inthelivingroomisaverylargetiledfireplaceforcooleveningsandacurvedwindowseatinthelargesouth-facingbaywindow.Thegaslightandelectricalfixturesareoriginaltothehouse.Thelargekitchenbrightlylitfromthewindowsoverlooking the Kennebec, has been modernized to fit theneedsofthePovichfamilydescendantsoftoday.Theoriginalslatesinkandcupboardsstillremaininonecorner.ExitontothebackporchandjoinaMaineauthors’booksigningspon-soredbyDownEastmagazinefrom1:00p.m.to3:00p.m.

AnoteonMayorBibber:HewasalsoDoctorBibber,andasaphysician,hesawtheneedtoprovideforthosewhohadworkedall their livesbuthad littlemoney intheiroldage.He founded thefirstOldCouplesHomeonHarwardStreetthatservedtheelderlyuntilthePlantHomewasbuiltin1917.

There has been a house on this corner since 1832,buttheexteriorofthehouseyouseetodayhasevolvedoutofthatolderhouseintoanItalianatetownhouse,apopularstyleofthe1850’s.In1851itwasownedbyFreemanH.Morse,whoservedasaRepresentativeinAugustaandWashington.HewasthesecondMayorofBath,anddied inEnglandafter servingasanambas-sador forAbrahamLincoln.The roof is hipped, sup-portedbybrackets(thelittlecirclesbetweenthemarepartofaventilationsystemtodiscourageiciclesintheattic).Thewindowsdownstairshavetriangularheads,thus pedimented.The surface of the façade is muchdecorated.ThedoorwayisclassicalwithDoric-likepi-lasters—atransomlightwithstainedglassinsert. Pleaseenterbythegardengate.ThereisacentralfountainwithintheformalEnglishgarden,alsotheweathervanegiventoMr.ShipwaybytheshipbuildersonhisretirementaspresidentatBIW.Thegreatroom,opentothegarden,wascreatedfromthreesmallerrooms.Theformalroomsandhallstillhavethefeelingofa150yearoldhouse.ThefrontfireplacewasuncoveredbytheShipwaysandrestored.WiththehelpofneighborElenaVandervoort,thecarvedvalancesoverthewindowswerefoundandreturnedtothehouse.TheShipwayshaveshownhowanaginghousecanbeadaptedtocontemporaryliving.

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House Tour cont’ d. from page 1 cont’ d. from page 4

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