I have posted this house many times over the past couple of years. It is such an intriguing house. For me the black original door with the fan light window makes the house stand out. There is just something about it.
For me it always pulls me in. And I have to say by looking at my website numbers, it pulls a lot of us in. I think its the mystery of what the history could be. Why has it been on the market so long? Is it haunted?
Having toured and looked at thousands of old homes over the years I have learned a lot. One thing I know for sure, this house needs an experienced person. Someone experienced with old houses. Not thinking this is a house for someone that loves to watch Nicole Curtis and thinks, I could do that!!!!! Let me try it with this house! 🙂
This is the Amos Armsby House, built in 1812. It is located in Paris Hill, Maine. Paris Hill is a Historic District and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Amos Armsby house is considered a contributing structure to that historic district. That adds another thing to consider when taking on this house. What are the rules and parameters within that historic district.
From what I have been told, everyone on “the hill” would love to see this house restored. All of the other homes have been well taken care of. I would personally love to see it in person just to see what is original, what was added on over the years. With nine bedrooms, that all can’t be original.
The history that I was given. I want to thank a follower of Old House Life on Facebook, Amanda Nichole. She was very intrigued by the house and did some legwork for me. She called the local historical society.
Locally this is known as the Red House on the Hill. Amos Armsby built the home in 1812. All of the mls sites have the date wrong when they say 1785. Amos was a town officer in 1809. He was also a house-wright. I had to look that term up. That is a person that builds wooden houses and often is called on to repair them. When I look at his house, that was the first thing I always thought, “that’s a lot of wood!”
Amos was a Sergeant in Captain Uriah Ripley’s Company during the war of 1812. In 1815 Amos sold the home to Joseph Lindsey who was a cabinet maker. Reading things like this makes me want to go back and look at the pictures again. Makes you wonder what is original and why I want to see it in person!
In 1825 the house was purchased by Rufus K. Goodenow. Who was he? He was born in 1790 and died in 1863. He was a United States Representative from Maine. He received limited schooling and was very interested in agricultural pursuits. He served as a captain in the war of 1812.
In 1837 the home was purchased by Levi Stowell. He was an attorney. After his ownership the home changed hands many times. I have heard there are foundation issues because it is an original stone foundation. I want to say that the stone foundation has probably kept it standing! The Allen house was built in 1790 and it has a stone foundation. The parts with the original stone are much better off than the parts that were altered.
Is it haunted? I heard from a granddaughter of a previous owner. Her grandmother loved the home. As with any old house, you hear noises. She was laughing at some comments.
I have been in a LOT of old houses. I look at it this way. This home is over 200 years old. Lots of laughter happened, lots of tears, blood was probably shed from minor cuts, and some from childbirth, or some from death. Back then people didn’t go off to a hospital to die, they stayed in their homes. To say this house is “haunted”, sure it is. But it doesn’t have to be something bad. Just my two cents.
Special thanks to Beth Miller with the Paris Hill Historical Society. Thanks to our Facebook follower, Amanda Nichole, for reaching out to her.
To see my original post with the home details and price, look here.
