Save This Place

American Foursquare home for sale in Houlton Maine

Square Deal

Save This Place

A roomy American Foursquare boasts built-in cabinetry and many original details.

Photographs by Gabe Souza

THE BACKSTORY

When this home was built around 1900, the town of Houlton was on the rise. The arrival of the railroads had connected the area to the nation’s markets, giving a great boost to the potato industry, which in turn lured families northward to cultivate the fertile soil. At the same time, a new vernacular interpretation of the Prairie style, the American Foursquare, was emerging. It incorporated the latest advances in building techniques, handcrafted woodwork, and a desire for spacious, yet unpretentious living quarters. With its hipped roof, wide overhanging eaves, dormers, and quintessential cube form, this house is an excellent rural interpretation of the style.

1900 built-ins and cabinetryWHY RESCUE IT?

If the expansive wraparound porch isn’t reason enough, the home also retains several original features that add elegance and charm to the interior. Molded door and window surrounds are abundant, as are period built-ins and cabinetry. Wood floors, a handsome fireplace, and a slate farmer’s sink sweeten the deal. The neighborhood is quiet, and the community is close-knit and dynamic. Houlton is a desirable location for telecommuters, families, and retirees, thanks in part to affordable housing and a recently completed, town-wide fiber-optic project delivering high-speed internet access to 96 percent of households and businesses.

WHAT YOU’RE IN FOR

The exterior of the home is in overall good shape, but the interior has been subjected to several decades of questionable fashion trends. Wood wall paneling, old carpeting, and dated wallpaper can be removed and upgraded. The original wooden floors will shine once they’re refinished. Repairs must be made to the foundation, and a new forced–hot-water furnace is needed. The second-floor bedrooms are blank canvases ready for new flooring, fresh paint, and personal touches.

Location: 12 Bowdoin St., Houlton

Asking Price: $49,000

Agent: Andrew Mooers, Mooers Realty, info@mooersrealty.com

This home was saved. Click here for more houses that need heroes.