The Rufus Porter Museum in Bridgton uses its two historic houses to showcase the work of Rufus Porter and other New England folk artists. Porter, who grew up in Bridgton, was a muralist, a portraitist, an inventor and a writer, as well as the founder of Scientific American Magazine. One of the Museum’s houses is the John and Maria Webb House.
The date of construction of the house is unknown, but it appears to have reached its current form by the early 1840s. The house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 for its architectural significance as an intact example of a residential building that exhibits a transitional mix of Federal and Greek Revival style features. The exterior and interior retain a great amount of integrity. It’s also significant as an early remnant of Bridgton’s past that escaped substantial alteration, relocation, or demolition.
John and Maria Webb owned the property from the 1830s until 1881, during which time the house was improved to its current form. John Webb was a blacksmith who operated his shop at the property across the street. A few years after John’s passing, Maria sold the property to her daughter-in-law and the property left control of the family in 1925.
The Rufus Porter Museum acquired the house in 2011. The Webb House had suffered from long years of vacancy and significant structural repairs were required along with an extensive interior rehabilitation and exterior restoration; the building was veering close to condemnation and a portion of the building was fire damaged. As well as structural repairs, the roof was replaced and the exterior clapboards repaired. The interior rehabilitation included drywall work and installation of an upgraded electrical system and new HVAC, fire and security system. A noncontributing, mid-20th century garage and addition to the ell were removed. Finally, the museum has built a handicapped accessible deck connecting the Webb house to its other structure, the often-moved Nathan Church House, which has also undergone substantial rehabilitation work, in addition to moving the structure to create a cohesive museum campus. Much of the work was done at a discounted rate or in-kind or done by volunteers.
The Rufus Porter Museum truly is the little museum that can - due to the hard work and diligence of its volunteers. Through frequent staffing changes over the years, to having to come up with creative ways to raise money, the volunteers kept their eye on the prize a museum campus, in the center of Bridgton, that provides educational opportunities for all ages. The honor award for the Webb House acknowledges the Rufus Porter Museum staff, the project participants and all of its dedicated volunteers.
Project Participants
Karla Leandri Rider, Executive Director
M & S Builders of Maine
Kris Barthelmess, RKB Associates Architects
Justin Dearborn, Northeast Sewer & Drain
Building materials from both Hancock Lumber and Brill Lumber
John Schuettinger, All Service Electric
Graystone Plumbing & Heating
Dyer Septic & Excavation
Timberland Drywall
Protection Professionals
Paul Whiting, PW Painting
The Trash Man
Mat Solutions
Gilman Electrical Supply
Q-Team
Graybar Electric
Ed Somers Woodworking
M. Gaertner, Historic Building Consultant
Volunteers
