The Barrows-Steadman Homestead, located on Main Street, is a two-and-a-half story Federal-style house. The frame is a post-and-beam construction with a side-gabled roof and two large chimneys. It sits on a fieldstone foundation and is sheathed in clapboard siding. The facade has a central entrance flanked by Doric pilasters and sidelights and surmounted by an entablature. A two-and-a-half story ell was added in 1910. The unique feature of the dwelling is the "Tree Room." In 1830, frescoes were painted in the room by Rufus Porter and Jonathan D. Poor. Porter was a Renaissance man. He was a farmer, shoemaker, soldier, fiddler, drummer, painter, teacher, inventor, and journalist. His murals typically consisted of his life experiences. He notably painted scenes from the Portland Harbor or the rural landscapes of Maine. Porter was hired by many to accessorize their home or tavern with interior murals. The Barrows family purchased the property in 1820, commissioning the murals from Porter and Poor. The Barrows-Steadman family retained ownership of the house well into the twentieth century.
Year Listed: 1982
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=9a13bace-7bb9-4e2c-a1ab-7022ecd0d101