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Castine – Stevens Home
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The Stevens home is located at 88 Main Street in Castine, Maine. This is the house in which Lane stayed with his friend Joseph L. Stevens, Jr, on their trips to Maine. It was built by Nathaniel Willson after 1800, and sold about 1810 by him to Mason and Sarah Shaw. The Shaws then sold it in 1821 to Dr. Joseph L. Stevens, before his marriage in July of that year to Dorothy Little. The Wilson Museum in Castine, Maine, owns the Stevens family scrapbook in which are located the receipts for furnishings for the house purchased by Dorothy and her mother in June of 1821. The Stevens family lived in the house for most of the century. In 1881, after Joseph's death, Dorothy wrote to Joseph Jr. that she was selling the house and moving to Gloucester. The house is still standing; in the late nineteenth century, architectural changes were made, such as the addition of the mansard roof.
Reference:
Ellenore W. Doudiet, Majabigwaduce: Castine, Penobscot, Brookville (Castine, ME: Scientific Society, 1978).
Related tables: Stevens, Joseph, Jr. » // Stevens, Joseph, Sr. and Dorothy Little »
Letter
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, Mass.
Thanks for "View of Owl's Head", a moonlight scene: "Mr. Lane, Dear Sir, when I expressed to you, during your visit to us, the last summer, my admiration of moonlight scenes, I did not for a moment suppose that I should ever become the possessor of one, and that so beautiful as "The View of Owls Head," which you have so kindly, and in so delicate a manner presented to me, and for which, I now beg you to accept my heartfelt thanks, also, be assured, if your pleasure in giving has been half equal to mine in receiving, you have been amply repaid for your kindness, and I alone, am the debtor. . . ."
Letter
Castine Historical Society, Maine
Writing to her son, Joseph, about selling the house. Also, "Mrs. Nellie Johnson of (Glap?) borough and daughter of Bob Perkins was in, and is very anxious to get one of those pictures of Castine, her husband has always wanted one as we have none, I thought possibly you or Edward or George might have an extra one and told her I would inquire as I was writing. She expressed great pleasure at the thought of my doing so . . . if you have one you can bring or send it with the price and she will gladly take the engraving"
Photograph
Maine Historic Preservation Commission (2000.24)
Also filed under: Historic Photographs » // Stevens, Joseph, Jr. » // Stevens, Joseph, Sr. and Dorothy Little »
