SPRINGVALE — It has been called a historic treasure, and now that the Goodwin home on Main Street has been acquired by the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society, it will always remain that way.
The 1899 home built by Edmund E. Goodwin is adjacent to the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum. The property transferred from the owner at 3 p.m. Monday. An hour later, members of the historical society announced the acquisition.
“The house is really a treasure,” said historical society president Harland Eastman. “The family never did anything to the outside, and very little inside.”
Society members, who have been eyeing the property for awhile, said the home will provide much-needed space to display and store historical artifacts significant to Sanford and Springvale, the village within the city’s boundaries. The society plans to use the second floor for archival storage. The ground floor will be used to demonstrate how people lived a century ago, said Eastman.
“This will be wonderful … to get this restored for the village,” said society member Lionel Sevigny.
Mayor Tom Cote said he’s particularly excited about tours for schoolchildren on the ground floor of the property; hundreds of students already visit the adjacent museum each year.
“This will be a more hands-on experience,” said Cote.
The town’s historical committee was given the 1873 Town Hall in Springvale in 2005. A historical society was formed, and the old building, which in its later years had been used as a basketball gym for children, was renovated and turned into a museum. There are regular exhibits, a research room, presentations on historical themes and music recitals. Storage, however, is an issue. There’s a second floor room stuffed with artifacts and a smaller room on the ground floor, and that’s all.
“This is a wonderful building and it looks like there’s a lot of space, but storage has been a problem,” said Eastman on Monday.
After he made the announcement, the group walked across the driveway, where history remains in the form of the fine staircase and balusters, the pocket door that opens into the parlor, the tall pantry cabinets and the mantels that frame fireplaces that were covered up long ago. With the home came a gift of the original carved and upholstered parlor furniture. The attached barn contains two horse stalls and an original “one-holer.”
Goodwin began mercantile life at age 15 as a clerk in a tobacco store in Brooklyn, N.Y., and later was a clerk in a number of dry goods establishments, according to society vice president Paul Auger. In 1877, he entered into business with his father at Springvale, where he became senior partner of the firm of E.E. and J.W. Goodwin, general merchants and manufacturers of clothing. He was also a director in the Sanford National Bank.
“The house is arguably the finest, untouched example of late 19th century domestic architecture in the City of Sanford,” said Eastman. “Every detail lavished on the building is still present, perhaps because the home never left the Goodwin family. Edmund’s daughter, Eva, inherited it on his death in 1915 and Eva’s daughter, Eileen, inherited it from her mother.”
Eileen Stritch, who is in her 90s, lived in the home until about two years ago.
“She was very excited” about the historical society acquiring the home, Eastman said.
The purchase price was $110,000. Eastman said two members of the historical society’s board of directors have pledged to pay the monthly mortgage.
The society’s first priority will be new exterior paint for the house and barn, which haven’t been painted for many years. Steven Vincent, the contractor responsible for the restoration of the museum, was the winning bidder for the job. Eastman said Springvale residents David and Linda Pence have agreed to cover the cost, and work will get underway immediately.
“It will dress up Main Street in Springvale for sure,” said board member Claire Auger.
Eastman said members of the community are welcome to help with restoration of the home, and there are many opportunities.
“Four rooms on the second floor need shelving and need to be painted,” he said. “The dining room needs a good set of late 19th century furniture. The original parlor furniture needs to be re-upholstered. The living room needs to be furnished. The kitchen could use an ice box. And the list goes on.
“Please let us know how you would like to help.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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