“Wiscasset Students study Chapman-Hall House 1754”
Wiscasset High School students studied Damariscotta’s famous Chapman-Hall House 1754 on September 18th to gain a deeper historic appreciation for the Maine’s colonial history.
The colonial lifestyle and economic development were examined in the midcoast region of Maine. Elijah Bouchard, an AP United States History student, was fascinated how the living style of English settlers shared similarities with tasks we perform today. He said, “Baking a batch of colonial cornbread required the brick oven to heat up for four hours, and you could check the temperature not with a thermostat, but by hovering your hands inside the oven to gauge the temperature.”
Wiscasset American History and AP United States History students studied English colonial history by touring the Chapman-Hall House led by Louise Miller. Eric Dube noticed the timing Nathanial Chapman arrival in colonial Damariscotta corresponded with the beginning of the French and Indian War in 1754.
Ijesity Rhinebolt, an AP United History student learned about life during the 1750s, “Survival in the Chapman-Hall House was predominantly built around the viability of the brick fireplace. The fire would be a place for congregating with your family, enjoying a meal, and even keeping out illness from the chilling winters.”
Madeline Richardson's favorite part of the Chapman-Hall House was seeing the changing of wool and linen clothing through the different eras. She said, “It's interesting seeing how the female attire like the smock, waistcoat, apron and the petticoat would change based on tasks that she was doing and different weather patterns.”
The Chapman-Hall House is a historic house museum in Damariscotta, Maine built in 1754 by one of the area's first permanent English settlers. It is the oldest standing house in Damariscotta, and one of the oldest in the state of Maine.
Cutline 1: “Open Fireplace”, Louise Miller provides a guided tour for Wiscasset American History students at the historic Chapman-Hall House 1754. D’Antae Dawkins, Yashaswini Dikonda and Gabriella Dotson and Spencer Smith-Pinkham study the unique characteristics of the colonial brick oven.
Cutline 2: “18th Century Attire”, WMHS AP United States History study the economic and cultural development of Colonial Maine at the Chapman-Hall House 1754. Elijah Bouchard, Xoe Morse and Ijesity Rhinebolt listen to Louise Miller during the tour.
