Built 1827 (1827) Designated CP April 21, 1989 Area 4,047 m² Added to NRHP 12 May 1976 | NRHP Reference # 76000086 Opened 1827 Architectural style Federal architecture | |
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Location 217 Main St., Auburn, Maine Part of Main Street Historic District (#89000255) Similar A A Garcelon House, Horatio G Foss House, Bay of Fundy, Lost Valley Ski Area | ||
The Edward Little House is an historic house at 217 Main Street in Auburn, Maine. Built in 1827, the Federal style house is one of the oldest on the south side of Auburn, and is most notable as the home of Edward Little, a major landowner and proponent of the development of Auburn. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Description and history
The Edward Little House stands on the west side of Main Street, south of Auburn's downtown area, at the corner of Vine Street. It is a 2 1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a center entry flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a fanlight. A two-story ell extends from the southern part of the rear. The interior is well preserved, its Federal period details including a handsome curving central staircase. The interior has a typical center hall layout, with a double parlor on the right and a large dining room on the left. The sections of the parlor are separated by an elaborately carved archway.
The house was built in 1827 by Edward Little, a native of Newbury, Massachusetts who moved here in 1826 and spent the rest of his life here. He was the beneficiary of a large land inheritance, which originally include significant holdings in Auburn, Lewiston, and surrounding communities. Little was well known for the many gifts he made to the growing community, supporting both religious and civic institutions.