Name/Title
Elm Cottage | 2 Elm Street, Eastport, Maine | I7-0B3-22 | District #91Entry/Object ID
091Description
The exterior of this center chimney cape was extensively remodeled in the mid to late nineteenth century. It was built about 1817-1818 by Thomas Pearce, and at that time was a classic Cape Cod style house. The gingerbread trim was added by John Sharland, who owned the house from 1866-1892. The house is on Elm Street, from which it takes its name. Many elm trees were planted around Eastport during 1817 to 1820. Decorative woodwork was added to the window lintels, gables and to the dormers; which were also a later addition. Elm Cottage has two ells attached in back, one of which is original and the other presumably built later. An interesting feature in the interior is a stairway which passes through the center chimney and has arched brickwork overhead. As far as is known, this is only “through the chimney staircase” in Maine. A similar “through the chimney staircase” was located in an early center chimney 19th century house across Elm Street, likely built by the same person. It was torn down in 2021. Elm Cottage has 7 fireplaces.
From Sunrise County Architecture (2nd revised and enlarged edition) 1996, p.29:
ELM COTTAGE
The exterior of this center chimney cape was extensively remodeled in the mid to late nineteenth century. It was built about 1817-1818 by Thomas Pearce, and at that time was a classic Cape Cod style house. The gingerbread trim was added by John Sharland, who owned the house from 1866-1892. The house is on Elm Street, from which it takes its name. Decorative woodwork was added to the window lintels, gables and to the dormers; which were also a later addition. Elm Cottage has two ells attached in back, one of which is original and the other presumably built later. An interesting feature in the interior is a stairway which passes through the center chimney and has arched brickwork overhead. The house has 7 fireplaces. AFN. JP
From Eastport Walking Tour Brochure, 2010:
69) Elm Cottage 2 Elm Street, Early Cape. Sea Capt. Thomas Pearce originally built this building as a Classic Cape Cod style home about 1818. John Sharland added remodeling and the gingerbread trim at a later date. Many elm trees were planted around Eastport during 1817 to 1820. The street that Elm Cottage is on originally was named Coombs, after Philip Coombs, who purchased 50 acres of
