High Federal Style, 1807

By Brian Vanden Brink

The Nickels Sortwell house in Wiscassett, Maine is a fine example of high Federal Style. Built in 1807 when shipbuilding brought great wealth and sophistication to coastal Maine the house represents the high water mark of Federal Style architecture in Maine. However, a trade embargo imposed by Jefferson a few years later severely impacted the area and the owners had to sell the house. It still stands today as a symbol of the time when the Maine coast was a wealthy enclave for shipbuilders and traders. The view from the third floor lunette window shows the village of Wiscassett, now enriched by a different kind of trade, that of tourism….

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High Federal Style, 1807

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