Contributed by Westport Island History Committee
- MMN #101539
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Description
This was the home of lifelong Westport Islander Charles E. Colby (1861-1939) and his wife Annie May Perkins (1866-1955). Colby was a carpenter, and did many renovations on this family home where he and his wife raised six children -- converting it from a cape with added space and embellishments. He also ran a farm and a saw mill and was involved in town government, serving as a selectman for many years.
In 2000, Dennis Cromwell bought the Colby homestead from Hazel Colby, wife of Clarence Colby, one of Charles E. Colby's grandsons. The house Dennis bought had two chimneys. When he saw a photograph that showed three chimneys, he became curious about the third chimney pictured on the south (left) addition of the house. He examined the ceilings, floors and crawlspace for cutouts or signs of a chimney foundation, and found none. When Clarence Colby saw him under the crawlspace and learned what he was doing, he laughed. Colby said there was never a third chimney, it was a "chimney" made of wood that was painted and faced to look like the other two chimneys so that people would think there was heat in the south addition of the house -- which some considered a sign of affluence.
About This Item
- Title: Charles E. Colby home, Westport Island, ca. 1910
- Creation Date: circa 1910
- Subject Date: circa 1910
- Location: Westport Island, Lincoln County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 7 cm x 11 cm
- Collection: Colby Greenleaf Collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Families--Maine--Westport Island
- Homes & Haunts--Westport Island--Charles E. Colby
- Houses--Maine--Westport Island
- Westport Island (Me.)
People
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For more information about this item, contact:
Westport Island History Committee6 Fowles Point Road, Westport Island, ME 04578
(207) 882-8477
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
More to Consider
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Hauling the boat "Verlie" to shore, Westport Island, ca. 1900
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Mill at the shore, Westport Island, 1908
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Hoeing on Westport Island, ca. 1935
Item 102013
Charles Colby's saw mill, Westport Island, 1908
Item 104991
"No Place Like Home" sampler, Westport Island, ca. 1875
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