The John Watson House, located in a rural area east of the Saco River, is a two-story wood framed building with a hipped roof, large central chimney, and clapboard siding. The Federal-style house sits on a granite foundation and has a central entrance. The door is flanked by sidelights with a recessed rectangular panel below each. A broad louvered fan extends over both the door and its adjoining sidelights. Later, two one-story Colonial Revival-style wings were added on both sides of the dwelling. One wing connects the house to a one-and-a-half story shed. Born in 1750, Watson immigrated to the Kennebunkport area from England before the Revolutionary War. He served in the Continental Army later claiming that "New England is my nation." He originally built a home on the banks of the Saco River in Hiram, but a spring flood swept it away in 1785. Afterward, he selected the current site on higher ground and built this dwelling for himself, his wife, Mary, and son, Arundel.
Year Listed: 1974
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=86f93ee3-fc81-4b66-a032-e4f5b10c5604