By Julie Senk
On the banks of the York River stands what is possibly Maine’s oldest home: a circa 1707 garrison constructed with heavy logs that were dovetailed at the joints to create a sturdy, weatherproof envelope — and fortification against Native American raids. Now featuring uncharacteristic clapboard and shingle sheathing and double-hung windows, the home nevertheless retains the most recognizable elements of northern postmedieval architecture, including a prominent second-story overhang and unadorned façade. The house was likely built by a son of Micum McIntire, a Scottish highlander who was deported to America by Oliver Cromwell following the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and decided to try his luck in what was then the Massachusetts wilderness.
