Contributed by Westport Island History Committee
Description
As legend had it, this house was being prepared as a home for French Queen Marie Antoinette. Although there was no real evidence to that fact, according to a paper written by Rufus K. Sewall and published by the Maine Historical Society in 1894, "A Refuge for Marie Antoinette in Maine", the house was built for Captain Joseph Decker in 1774 on the head of Squam island. ("Squam", now Westport Island, was known as Jeremysquam. It was part of Edgecomb until 1828.)
After Captain Decker's death in 1792, his son-in-law Captain Stephen Clough, acquired the property; the house subsequently became known as the Clough House. In 1793, Captain Clough was the registered owner of the ship "Sally" of Wiscasset which was in Paris that year during the French "Reign of Terror".
The back of this postcard is captioned with a brief recount of the legend: "Built for Queen Marie Antoinette who was to escape France on the Brig Sally, already loaded with the Queen's furniture and belongings, the plans to escape on this ship fell through and the Queen was executed shortly afterwards. It is believed however that Tallyrand came over and occupied the house prepared for the Queen."
The house was moved across the Sheepscot River to Edgecomb in 1838. In the 20th century, it became a destination for school groups, civic groups and history buffs. Its location was printed on some tourist maps and there were several postcard views.
This postcard was published by Sidney G. Evans who managed a Benjamin Franklin store in Wiscasset beginning in the mid-1920s. This view of the house was taken before entry walkway renovations were made in 1929.
About This Item
- Title: Marie Antoinette House, Edgecomb, ca. 1925
- Creation Date: circa 1925
- Subject Date: circa 1925
-
Locations:
- Edgecomb, Lincoln County, ME
- Westport Island, Lincoln County, ME
- Wiscasset, Lincoln County, ME
- Paris, France
- Media: Postcard
- Dimensions: 8.9 cm x 13.8 cm
- Collection: Swanton Book Collection
- Object Type: Text and Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Legends
- Marie Antoinette, Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, 1755-1793.
- Westport Island (Me.)
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Westport Island History Committee6 Fowles Point Road, Westport Island, ME 04578
(207) 882-8477
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
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