This is a story about a house.
This house is a traditional farmhouse built around 1860 in Steuben, Maine. If you’ve ever traveled up to Maine’s Down East and Bold Coast coastal regions, you’ve probably seen many very old homesteads. Most of these homes are in various states of disrepair or remodeled beyond recognition, but a few retain the essence of their original interior and exterior architecture.
This particular house came up for sale in 2019 and sat on the market for two years due to its poor condition. Some intrepid out-of-state buyers purchased the home in 2021 and plowed a ton of money into the house to stabilize it and bring it back to a more original state. After a year of additional surprise issues and repairs, the owners restored it back on the market in 2022. As with any old home, the second you dig under the surface, you’ll find more issues, especially if the house has been neglected for decades.
In Spring 2022, I was looking for a second home for my studio, office, and a place to house my extensive pottery collection. With a tight and competitive housing market, we jumped on it as soon as it was listed and closed in May 2022.
You can check out what’s going on with the exterior here.
About Steuben
Steuben is a town located in Washington County, Maine, United States. The town was settled in the late 18th century and was incorporated in 1803. The Passamaquoddy people, who had lived in the region for thousands of years, initially inhabited the area.
Steuben was named after Baron von Steuben, a Prussian military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. The town was originally a shipbuilding and fishing center, and it was home to several shipyards and small fishing villages.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Steuben was also home to several mills and factories, including a paper mill and a gristmill. The town’s economy has diversified over time, and today it is home to several small businesses, including fishing, forestry, and tourism.
Steuben is located on the coast of Maine and is known for its beautiful beaches, rocky coastline, and picturesque lighthouses. The town is also home to several nature reserves and state parks, including Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.
Detailed 1861 map is located here
Detailed 1881 map is located here
