Superstorm Sandy caused minor damage to two historic properties in Maine, the Hamilton House in South Berwick and Castle Tucker in Wiscasset.

Water seeped into the portico at Castle Tucker and caused the iconic wooden garden arches at Hamilton House to shift, according to Historic New England, a Boston-based organization that manages historic properties across the region.

“A storm like the one we had tends to wreak havoc in places where we always have some issues,” said Peggy Wishart, site manager for the Hamilton House and two other properties in southern Maine. “A roof that is close to needing replacement might leak, and we try to prepare for that. But we were really quite lucky. Nothing fell over.”

At the Hamilton House, the garden arch already needed work. The storm made it worse, she said. “There is some rot, and we have seen the weather take a toll on it this year. The storm did not improve its condition,” Wishart said.

The arch, which stands about 10 feet tall, is central to the property’s gardens, and is a key element of outdoor wedding ceremonies. It has been secured for now, but will need to come down for repairs, she said.

The wooden arch, painted white, is a reproduction of the original. It was built in the 1990s. It likely will cost several thousand dollars to fix, she said.

Although they may open for special occasions in the fall, the properties are generally closed for the season.

A National Historic Landmark, the Hamilton House was built around 1785 by shipping merchant Jonathan Hamilton. It overlooks the Salmon Falls River.

Castle Tucker was built in the early 1800s, and sits on a hill overlooking the Sheepscot River.

Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or:

bkeyes@pressherald.com

Twitter: pphkeyes

 

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