Wiscasset Middle High School high school history students experienced the Nathaniel Chapman-built, 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta when hosted recently by Lincoln County Historical Association.

Ruth Burchstead was intrigued by the Chapman-Hall House’s woolen production process. “The spinning wheel for wool, called a great wheel, sparked my interest because it was used by spinning the wheel with your hands, and the spinning wheel I am familiar with in the present day uses foot treadles to spin wool.”

Louise Miller, a noted historian in Lincoln County, gave students an insightful tour of the historical developments of Chapman-Hall House in the 18th and 19th centuries in relation to the early Maine shipbuilding and cod fishing industries in Newcastle and Damariscotta. 

Student Henry Putnam said, “The Chapman-Hall House is very interesting. It has lots of thick beams and posts that were probably eight inches thick. The flooring was very intriguing too, because it didn't really have any uniformity with boards around 18 to 24 inches wide.”

Olivia Warlick observed the uniqueness of the famous cape’s location. “Back when the house was built there was no Church Street and the Damariscotta River and harbor were geographically much closer to the historic cape.”