Visited: Sarah Orne Jewett Historic House, So. Berwick, Maine

 We love touring historic homes and learning about the houses, the people who lived in them, and their histories. Today's blog takes you to the Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick, Maine. If you don't know who she is, you will by the end of this blog! 

WHO IS SHE?  - Theodora Sarah Orne Jewett was an American novelist, short story writer and poet, best known for her local color fiction works set along or near the southern coast of Maine. ;She was known to masterfully depict the landscapes, speech, and declining seaport communities of Maine. Her most celebrated works include the novel The Country of the Pointed Firs, and the short story, "A White Heron." 

(Rob and Tom in the Sarah Orne Jewett house) 

SHE HAD A PARTNER - We learned that she never married, and the love of her life was a woman named Annie Fields who lived in Boston. She partnered with Annie Adams Fields after the death of Fields' husband, publisher James T. Fields. They ;ived together for decades in a committed domestic partnership known at the time as a "Boston marriage." They were accepted by their literary circle and society peers as an openly committed couple, even exchanging vows and rings privately.

THE HOUSE - It's an historic Georgian-style home, built between 1774-1780 by merchant John Haggens. It was purchased in the 1830s by Sarah’s grandfather, Captain Theodore Jewett. It is located at 5 Portland Street in South Berwick, Maine featuring preserved family furnishings, eclectic Victorian decor, and an adjacent Greek Revival visitor center. In 1991, it was designated a National Historic Landmark for its deep ties to Jewett’s literary legacy.

(Photos: One of the bedrooms, and the kitchen. Credit: R.G.)

SARAH'S LIFE IN THE HOUSE - 

Sarah Orne Jewett was born in the house in 1849 and grew up next door in the newer Greek Revival home.

She and her sister Mary inherited the main house in 1887, where she wrote much of her famous regionalist fiction inspired by the Maine countryside.

Divided her time between this quiet Maine retreat and living in Boston with her life partner, Annie Fields.

A BREATHLESS TOURING NOTE - When you go into the house, you have to don "booties" over your shoes. Also, it's critical that you don't touch anything! - One older woman who suffers from asthma climbed the stairs and was out of breath, but she wasn't allowed to sit on anything, so she had to crouch on the floor until she could catch her breath. We thought that was a bit extreme, and felt badly for the woman!