The historic coastal farmhouse once owned by the grandson of the founder of the Down East town of Milbridge is for sale for $895,000.
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was once owned by Deacon William Ellis Wallace, the grandson of Major Joseph Wallace, who is credited as one of the founders of Milbridge, according to Janie Snider, the volunteer curator of the Milbridge Historical Society of 11 years.
A fisherman and shipbuilder, Major Joseph Wallace settled in Milbridge in 1760 and created a 40-vessel fleet that helped transport materials and goods up the Narraguagus River, said John Bettis, an associate broker at Realty of Maine, the listing agent for the property.
In 1807, the French entered the bay and sank all 40 ships, leading Napoleon to pay $15 million in reparations to the country, according to a plaque on the home.
There’s some disagreement around when the house on Victoria Lane was built. Bettis believes the house was constructed in 1764 and either rebuilt or heavily renovated in 1860, but Snider said the house likely dates back to the 1850s or 1860s, though there’s little record of it.
“We’ve noticed an uptick in people coming into the historical society looking for information on their homes, but people didn’t keep good records back then,” Snider said. “We try to dig up information but it’s not necessarily there.”
With 2,100 square feet of living space, the home has been meticulously maintained but the historic elements that give the house charm, such as wide wooden floorboards, large windows and multiple fireplaces, remain.
Major Joseph Wallace could have helped build the house, as he was known for his construction skills, but Snider said the historical society has “no record of him living there.”
Deacon William Ellis Wallace may have worked in the local shipyard, “because our shipyard was really flourishing at that time,” Snider said, or operated the town’s first general store, which the Wallace family owned.
The house is also being sold with a detached two-car garage with an additional living space above it, which sits about 200 feet away from the main house, according to Bettis. The apartment offers a full bathroom, kitchenette and an open concept living room with vaulted ceilings and large windows where multiple beds and a dining area could be positioned.
While one of the current owners uses the apartment as a watercolor painting studio, the unit could easily serve as an office space, guest house or a short term rental, bringing in additional income for the new owner, Bettis said.
“It could probably sleep a family of four or five nicely,” Bettis said.
The two buildings, which sit on more than 13 acres on a private road, must be sold together, and have an asking price of $895,000, according to Bettis.
The property also offers more than 500 feet of West-facing frontage. The shore isn’t accessible from the property, but Bettis said a staircase could easily be added in the future to allow access to the water.
“When you turn onto Victoria Lane, it feels like you’re in your own domain,” Bettis said. “It’s off the beaten path and the historic home makes it feel like you’re going back in time. And the grounds are beautiful open fields, towering spruce trees and dozens of apple trees.”
The sellers have owned the property for nearly 30 years and used it as a seasonal home where they’d take their children in the summer, though the property can be used year-round, Bettis said. They decided to sell the two buildings because they no longer needed the space.
The sellers will, however, maintain ownership of another home down the road from the farmhouse and plan to continue using it as a seasonal getaway.
In addition to the two buildings, buyers have the opportunity to purchase an additional 7 acres that abut the two homes, which could easily be developed in the future. That land would offer another 330 feet of shoreline and bring the price of the buildings and land to slightly less than $1.2 million, Bettis said.
“There are expansion opportunities if someone wanted to make this a family compound,” Bettis said. “You could build another one or two guest cottages or another main home on that land.”
Sandwiched between Cherryfield and Harrington in Washington County, Milbridge sits on the coast of Narraguagus Bay at the mouth of the Narraguagus River. The coastal town has long been known for its rich fishing and wild blueberry harvesting industries.
The cost of an average home in Milbridge has risen by nearly $100,000 in the last five years and sits at slightly more than $258,000 as of Wednesday, according to Zillow.
