Name/Title
Thomas Hill House | 269 Main Street, Calais, Maine | Calais Residential Historic DistrictDescription
Built:c. 1840
Address:
269 Main Street
Calais, Maine
National Register
HISTORIC DISTRICT
National Register of Historic Places Continuation_Sheet
CALAIS RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
Section number 7, Pages 12-13:
17. Thomas Hill House, c. 1840 - C 269 Main street
This substantial two-story, three-bay Greek Revival frame house is distinguished by the four broad pilasters which grace its facade, the wide entablature, and the original projecting central entrance vestibule which repeats the detailing of the facade. This vestibule features a door framed by narrow sidelights in addition to long, narrow six-over-nine double-hung sash on the sides. It is flanked by the large first story windows whose surrounds have acanthus leaf corner blocks. Unfortunately, the original sash configuration has given way to a single pane of plate glass. Double-hung windows occupy the second story. Of further note are the acanthus leaf decorations on the pilaster capitals. The two-bay gable ends have a symmetrical fenestration pattern utilizing the modern plate glass glazing in the first story, with double-hung windows in the second story and gable peaks. A pair of chimneys punctuate the roof ridge, and a one-story ell extends to the rear. The house is covered in aluminum siding.
This house was built in 1840 for Thomas Hill, the oldest son of Daniel Hill, one of the founders of Calais. The house was occupied by the Hill family until Mabel Hill sold it to her brother, Richard, in 1944. Richard Hill lived in Boston and purchased his family home from his sister with intent of restoring it for retirement. However, this was never accomplished and in 1960 he sold the house to catherine Winship. She lived in the house with her husband and family until 1969 when she sold it to Leonard Scott and returned to Massachusetts. Information from papers found in the attic by Mrs. Winship state that Thomas Hill had been a sea captain who gathered a variety of material for building the house on his voyages. Supposedly the white marble for the right parlor mantel was brought by Hill from Italy. The mahogany for the staircase was brought from South America and a pewter chandelier for the front hall, from Paris. Legend has it that Thomas Hill intended his house to be a real showplace and spared no cost to accomplish this. The windows were set in hand carved wooden panels extending from ceiling to floor with interior folding shutters. These remain in the house today. An artisan was hired from Boston to create the molded ceilings of the parlors and lower hall. A circular staircase was installed using his South American mahogany and a fireplace was built in each of the house's eight rooms. The woodwork was carefully designed utilizing fluted panels on the sides and top with square corners containing a different hand-carved flower for each room.