SPRINGVALE — The Edmund E. Goodwin house at 503 Main St. has been called an historic treasure. Sanford Springvale Historical Society members knew it when they acquired the 1899 home and barn adjacent  the museum in 2014.

Now others are recognizing it, too.

On Friday, Maine Preservation named the Goodwin house in their honor awards, among 15 properties. Former schools, courthouses, churches and Halfway Rock Light off Rockland all were  recipients.

What stood out to Maine Preservation was that the Goodwin house was largely unchanged, a rarity, said Christopher Closs, field service advisor for the organization.

“It’s a rather rare occurrence, to find a building in a downtown environment where you’d typically have successive ownership, largely intact with virtually all of its architectural details, including wall paper and paint,” said Closs.

That, said historical society President Harland Eastman, is because the house never left the Goodwin family. Goodwin’s daughter, Eva, inherited it on her father’s death, and Eva’s daughter, Eileen Stritch, lived there until shortly before it was acquired by the historical society — a total of 115 years in the same family.

With leadership from the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum, more than 70 Sanford citizens and institutions donated a total of $120,000 to put the house back in order, Maine Preservation noted.

Eastman said the honor is extended to those who made it happen, including the folks who helped fix up the house, like Steve Vincent, who did much of the work.

The first floor is set up with furniture and decorations of the period.

The Goodwin house has also acquired historical pieces as a result of the pending turnover of 19th Century Willowbrook Museum  in Newfield to the Orrington-based Curran Homestead. The Sanford Springvale Historical Society has been the recipient of a number of items from the museum, including an array of period toys that will be on view at the Goodwin house. As well, those who venture into the Goodwin barn will see sleigh that was made in Newfield, along with  the Dr. Trafton buggy, both from the Willowbrook museum.

The public will be able to see the historic home for three Saturdays in December — Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The house has been decorated for Christmas; a tree in the bay window is trimmed with paper chains and popcorn and cranberry garlands crafted by students from St. Thomas School. There is no fee for the tour.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].