Hamilton House
South Berwick, ME


Photo courtesy of J. Dennis Robinson.

In 1898, Mrs. Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter, Elise, purchased the c. 1785 Hamilton House, built on a magnificent site overlooking the Salmon Falls River. After railroads made the region accessible in the late 19th century, coastal Maine became a fashionable destination for wealthy summer people. Many of the newcomers bought and restored the fine old houses built during the prosperous years following the American Revolution. The Tysons flung themselves into a lifelong project to restore the house to its former glory. Influenced by literary imagery, including the writings of their neighbor and friend, Sarah Orne Jewett, they decorated with a mixture of elegant antiques, painted murals, and simple country furnishings to create their own romantic interpretation of America's colonial past. The extensive grounds of the Hamilton House include a formal garden which is a site of a summer concert series. Set high above the river, this house affords a spectacular view of a rural home. The Berwick Woods forest path is nearby.

HOURS: Wed – Sun, June 1 - Oct 15. Tours on the hour 11 am – 4pm
WEBSITE: http://www.spnea.org/visit/homes/hamilton.htm
ADMISSION: $5, SPNEA members and South Berwick residents free
PHONE: (207) 384-2454
ADDRESS: 40 Vaughan's Lane South Berwick, ME 03802
DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 to Maine Exit 3. Follow Route 236 north for 9 miles. After junction with Route 91, take first left onto Brattle Street. Take second right onto Vaughan's Lane and continue to the end.