James Leavitt House
Encyclopedia
The James Leavitt House in Waterboro Center
, Maine
, is a mid-19th century Greek Revival home built of wooden weatherboard and resting on a granite foundation. Built in 1850 for wealthy merchant James Leavitt, the house is on the National Register of Historic Places
and is now owned by the town of Waterboro, which operates the architecturally-significant structure as a house museum.
The builder of the Leavitt House, James Leavitt, moved to Waterboro Center with his family from nearby Alfred, Maine
, between 1830 and 1840, and entered into business as "an astute businessman," as a local historian put it. The merchant had several lines of business: he bought and sold local produce in Portland
and Boston, and operated a general store near his house. He also bought pre-cut fabric in Boston, which he pieced out to local women, who then assembled the fabric into men's suits, shirts and trousers, which Leavitt sold back to clothiers in Boston, often at a healthy mark-up. The women were given credits at Leavitt's store in return: the merchant's extensive records for these transactions are today maintained at the Leavitt House.
Leavitt's various businesses enabled him to make a fortune, and have an elaborate home built to suit his success as merchant. The James Leavitt House, completed in 1850, is significant for the level of interior detailing. The two-story Greek Revival home, which housed Leavitt, his wife and 12 children, boasts elaborate interior molding, carved corner blocks, a detail rarely seen on rural Maine
homes. The house retains its original elaborate wallpaper, and also features "some of the finest wood-graining in the state."
"The sheer amount of surface that was grained indicates that this was probably not the work of an itinerant artist passing through town, but undertaken [by] a specialist like Jason Hamilton, a 'fancy painter' who lived in nearby Sanford
and was listed in the Mercantile Union Business Directory in 1849," notes the application for the House's nomination to the National Historic Places Register. "Interestingly, the grain painting at the Leavitt house does not necessarily try to mimic natural wood, rather the combinations of patterns, such as birds-eye maple and tiger-maple, used together on the doors suggest a much more artistic approach to the application. This suggestion is further supported by the grained pictures of the rooster and the swan that appear on the back doors of two cabinets."
The Leavitt House, built at what was once the most prosperous location in Waterboro Center, is a large home with seven bedrooms on its second floor. After the death of merchant James Leavitt in about 1880, the home became a second residence for the family. James Leavitt's son Benjamin embarked on a career as a prosperous merchant in Saco, Maine
, and used his father's home as a summer residence. After Benjamin Leavitt's death, his daughter Louella Frey inherited the home; subsequently it passed to her two daughters, including writer Helen Taylor who set her book A Time to Recall in the family home. Mrs. Taylor's three sons sold the building to the town of Waterboro in 1989.
The house was in exceptionally good condition, noted local historian Jim Carli: "It is truly an unspoiled dwelling owing to the fact that it was lived in year-round for only thirty years." Because of its parttime occupancy by the Leavitt family and their heirs, the house survives in very nearly the original fashion in which it was built, with few alterations.
Merchant James Leavitt, born in Alfred, Maine
, in 1797, and married to Lovey Stevens of York, Maine
, died 7 September, 1876, at Waterboro Center. His wife died in 1825. They are both buried at Waterboro Center, not far from the home they had built.
Waterboro, Maine
Waterboro is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,214 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, is a mid-19th century Greek Revival home built of wooden weatherboard and resting on a granite foundation. Built in 1850 for wealthy merchant James Leavitt, the house is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and is now owned by the town of Waterboro, which operates the architecturally-significant structure as a house museum.
The builder of the Leavitt House, James Leavitt, moved to Waterboro Center with his family from nearby Alfred, Maine
Alfred, Maine
Alfred is a town in York County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,497. Alfred is the county seat of York County and home to part of the Massabesic Experimental Forest...
, between 1830 and 1840, and entered into business as "an astute businessman," as a local historian put it. The merchant had several lines of business: he bought and sold local produce in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
and Boston, and operated a general store near his house. He also bought pre-cut fabric in Boston, which he pieced out to local women, who then assembled the fabric into men's suits, shirts and trousers, which Leavitt sold back to clothiers in Boston, often at a healthy mark-up. The women were given credits at Leavitt's store in return: the merchant's extensive records for these transactions are today maintained at the Leavitt House.
Leavitt's various businesses enabled him to make a fortune, and have an elaborate home built to suit his success as merchant. The James Leavitt House, completed in 1850, is significant for the level of interior detailing. The two-story Greek Revival home, which housed Leavitt, his wife and 12 children, boasts elaborate interior molding, carved corner blocks, a detail rarely seen on rural Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
homes. The house retains its original elaborate wallpaper, and also features "some of the finest wood-graining in the state."
"The sheer amount of surface that was grained indicates that this was probably not the work of an itinerant artist passing through town, but undertaken [by] a specialist like Jason Hamilton, a 'fancy painter' who lived in nearby Sanford
Sanford, Maine
Sanford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,798 in the 2010 census, the highest of the York County towns, and the 8th largest in the state. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale...
and was listed in the Mercantile Union Business Directory in 1849," notes the application for the House's nomination to the National Historic Places Register. "Interestingly, the grain painting at the Leavitt house does not necessarily try to mimic natural wood, rather the combinations of patterns, such as birds-eye maple and tiger-maple, used together on the doors suggest a much more artistic approach to the application. This suggestion is further supported by the grained pictures of the rooster and the swan that appear on the back doors of two cabinets."
The Leavitt House, built at what was once the most prosperous location in Waterboro Center, is a large home with seven bedrooms on its second floor. After the death of merchant James Leavitt in about 1880, the home became a second residence for the family. James Leavitt's son Benjamin embarked on a career as a prosperous merchant in Saco, Maine
Saco, Maine
Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems , a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics...
, and used his father's home as a summer residence. After Benjamin Leavitt's death, his daughter Louella Frey inherited the home; subsequently it passed to her two daughters, including writer Helen Taylor who set her book A Time to Recall in the family home. Mrs. Taylor's three sons sold the building to the town of Waterboro in 1989.
The house was in exceptionally good condition, noted local historian Jim Carli: "It is truly an unspoiled dwelling owing to the fact that it was lived in year-round for only thirty years." Because of its parttime occupancy by the Leavitt family and their heirs, the house survives in very nearly the original fashion in which it was built, with few alterations.
Merchant James Leavitt, born in Alfred, Maine
Alfred, Maine
Alfred is a town in York County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,497. Alfred is the county seat of York County and home to part of the Massabesic Experimental Forest...
, in 1797, and married to Lovey Stevens of York, Maine
York, Maine
York is a town in York County, Maine, United States at the southwest corner of the state. The population in the 2000 census was 12,854. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Maine, York is a well-known summer resort. It is home to three 18-hole golf clubs, three sandy beaches, and...
, died 7 September, 1876, at Waterboro Center. His wife died in 1825. They are both buried at Waterboro Center, not far from the home they had built.