Historical Society to host Fort Fairfield home tour

One of Aroostook County’s landmark homes, the Philo H. Reed house in Fort Fairfield, will be a feature of the House and Garden Tour to be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28. Proceeds will benefit Frontier Heritage Historical Society of Fort Fairfield.
 Celebrating 100 years, the Queen Anne-style 21-room home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been in the Reed family for four generations. Governor John H. Reed grew up here. Current owners are P.H. Reed’s great-granddaughter, Rayle Reed, and husband, Edward Ainsworth.
The grand old house nearly didn’t make it to the centennial year. In 2006, disaster struck in the form of broken pipes, floods and heat damage. Wallpapers were severed from the walls, the beautiful woodwork had turned white from moisture, plastered ceilings were hanging; rugs, furniture and drapery fabrics soaked and stained.
The Ainsworths didn’t take time to be daunted. They rolled up their sleeves and went to work along with a group of skilled craftsmen and helpers. A year later the house now stands proud with restoration complete. Fabulous furnishings and antiques fill the rooms. The huge mahogany dining table (once owned by the admiral of both fleets during WWII) will be laden with sandwiches, sweets and tea for guests.
Four additional beautiful homes of different styles will be featured, including Peter G. Hunt Jr.’s handsome Four-square Craftsman. It has lustrous oak paneling and fretwork, a stunning corner fireplace, four bedrooms and a transformed kitchen in keeping with the style of the house. A special media room completes the updated plan.
The large customized modular home of the Rev. Mark and Claudette Babin is located high on a verdant hillside overlooking the Aroostook River and peaceful rural countryside. The Babins, who did much of the interior work, planned their huge kitchen-dining area to accommodate large gatherings. A rich color palette adorns the rooms and adds interest and warmth. The back deck overlooks new flower and vegetable gardens.
Bill and Dawn Findlen have just completed restoration of a large country farmhouse that began life as a granary in the 1880s. A blue and white cozy kitchen is a special highlight along with beautiful hardwood floors. The wrap-around porch features an enclosed living area, a screened section including a sleeping space in addition to four big bedrooms inside. Country antiques enhance the early style and a full-sized Underground Railroad pattern quilt by Patricia Troicke will be on display.
The contemporary bi-level home of Tim and Susan Oldenberg now sports a deck gazebo and more flower gardens near the pool since their home was last on tour. Living is easy here as the major rooms face south giving complete privacy to enjoy the back yard with views of lush potato fields, meadows and woodlands. The open floor plan of the house allows for designated spaces for dining, lounging or kitchen work. A finished basement adds lots of extra space.
Tickets are $25 by advance sale only. For reservations send check or money order out to Frontier Heritage Historical Society to Jean Deschesne, 473-7273, 51 Elm Street; or Mavis Towle, 472-4041, 19 Milk Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742. Tourgoers’ reserved tickets with maps and descriptions are to be picked up the day of the tour from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the historic Friends Church on Route 1A.