Yarmouth Historic Context Statement (Draft)

Gaertner, Margaret; Bassett, Hilary

From the Architectural Significance and Visual Character - General Characteristics: "Yarmouth retains its identity as an authentic historic New England village, with its iconic churches and historic buildings that reflect the prosperity of its residents from the late 1700s to the early 20th century. The 1871 Beers map illustrates the basic form of the historic Town we see today: the Lower Village near the mouth of the Royal River, and the Upper Village centered at the Old Baptist Meeting House near Elm and Main Streets. The two villages were separated by a stream and swampy area in between, where Route One is located today. ...The housing stock and the religious, commercial and institutional buildings that survive tell the story of the Town and its residents. There are many fine examples of 19th and early 20th century styles of American architecture. The Georgian and Federal periods, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and the Italianate are well-represented, and there are good examples of later styles including the Queen Anne and Shingle Styles, Classical and Colonial Revival, and even Craftsman. Greek Revival and Italianate are the most commonly found styles. Noted Maine architects Henry Rowe, Francis Fassett, Thomas J. Sparrow, George M. Harding, Augustus Holt, John Calvin Stevens, and Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow designed buildings in Yarmouth. For the majority of buildings, the architects and master builders remain unknown. Within the Town, there are eleven buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The 2018 Architectural Survey identified 70 additional buildings that have been or could be determined eligible for individual listings. These and many adjacent properties retain a high degree of architectural integrity. ...A notable characteristic of Yarmouth's historic Village is that buildings of various time periods and styles are interspersed. Along the streets, houses from the Georgian and Federal periods abut Greek Revival and Italianate buildings and later 19th and early 20th century structures. As the town (and families) grew, larger homesteads were subdivided and newer buildings were constructed that filled in open areas along the streets. Style preferences changes and buildings were updated to reflect changes in taste. Churches, schools, and business, were expanded, reconfigured, and updated over time. Occasionally, houses were moved to make land available for something else. For example, the 1830 Bethuel Wood house at 104 Portland Street, was moved from Main Street around 1940 when the North Yarmouth Academy purchased the property. The eclectic mix of historic building styles we see today arose organically over time. In the mid to late 20th century, changes brought by automobile and suburban residential and commercial development threatened Yarmouth's historic character. Along Main Street former residential structures were converted for retail, office or institutional use. In spite of these challenges Yarmouth maintains a remarkably intact architectural heritage visible along its principal streets and in the adjoining neighborhoods." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans & Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P20AF00024).