Hamilton House, South Berwick, ME

After railroads made the region accessible in the late 19th century, coastal Maine became a fashionable destination for wealthy summer people. Many of the newcomers bought and restored the fine old houses built during the prosperous years following the American Revolution.

In 1898, Mrs. Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter, Elise, purchased the c. 1785 Hamilton House, built on a magnificent site overlooking the Salmon Falls River. The Tysons flung themselves into a lifelong project to restore the house to its former glory. Influenced by literary imagery, including the writings of their neighbor and friend, Sarah Orne Jewett, they decorated with a mixture of elegant antiques, painted murals, and simple country furnishings to create their own romantic interpretation of America's colonial past.

The extensive grounds of the Hamilton House include a formal garden, the site of a summer concert series.

Sept 2009, Photo 87

River from Hamilton House

Sept 2009, Photo 86

Hamilton House

Sept 2009, Photo 88

Hamilton House

Sept 2009, Photo 91

Hamilton House, Gardens

Sept 2009, Photo 92