For a window into generations of upper-middle-class life in Brunswick, Maine, visit this downtown historic dwelling, a practically untouched time capsule.
Step inside the Skolfield-Whittier House to feel as though you have stepped back in time. First built in the 1850s, the house is actually two separate dwellings, one for the Skolfields and one for the Whittiers, who each took a wing of the house. Closed up and donated to the local historical society in the 1980s, today the building is a must-see for history buffs and curious minds.
The house was kept unchanged through multiple successive generations of family residents until it was finally closed in the mid-20th century. Follow knowledgeable tour guides through the house as they point out various idiosyncrasies of the artifacts and former inhabitants. See the evolution of household appliances in the kitchen, where iceboxes, one from 1891 and another from 1910, sit next to a Norge refrigerator from 1948.
The influential and eclectic families who lived in this house account for the varied objects within the home, from original Wedgwood and Dresden china, to parts of a human skeleton, to a murder weapon. Alfred Skolfield, the original inhabitant, was a successful sea captain see his log on display. Later generations included Dr. Alice A. S. Whittier, Maine’s first female pediatrician, as well as Dr. Frank Whittier, one of the country’s earliest forensic pathologists. Chat with your tour guide and try to link different items with each former resident. Step out into the small but beautiful garden, now kept up by volunteers and friends of the family.
The Skolfield-Whittier House is open seasonally, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, from Wednesday to Saturday. Tours run every hour on the hour and last about 1 hour. Tours are ticketed and offer children and family discounts. Find the house immediately next to the Federal Street Historical District and near a bus stop. Use the free street parking available nearby, though this can be crowded during the weekends and on holidays.
