Thought to be the oldest surviving building in Baldwin, the Burnell Tavern is a well-preserved, unadorned Colonial era house. It is clapboard sided with a side-gabled roof and two interior end chimneys. The symmetrical facade features a central entry located in a projecting vestibule. The door is flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a wide band of trim. The windows are made up of multiple small panes. There is a one-story ell that projects off the rear of the house and a secondary entrance sits on the south facing elevation. The tavern was built by Gideon Burnell, a local farmer. The tavern served travelers en route from Portland and central New Hampshire. Taverns played a crucial role in early New England society, serving as a gathering place for the community and as a respite for travelers, offering food and overnight lodging. The tavern owner and his family typically lived on the premises, in an area separated from the guests. Burnell was somewhat of an entrepreneur and, in addition to farming and operating the tavern, he also ran the local grist and sawmills as well as a store. The barn, also pictured below, was constructed in the mid nineteenth century and was used to store carriages, animals, and feed.
Year Listed: 1983
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=357d28b2-bc57-48f3-a85e-223f601ba819