Before & After ~ In the 19th century, progressive industrialists recognized a need for decent housing for their workers and that meeting this need would give them a healthier and more stable workforce. This enlightened self-interest led to the construction of thousands of millworker cottages like this Queen Anne example during the Victorian period and into the early 20th century.
This Freeport, Maine, cottage was built by a man who unexpectedly inherited a sizable fortune in the 1880’s and used it to create jobs and housing in his community. He built a factory and office building and leased them to a shoe manufacturer and then built dozens of similar cottages to house workers.
This cottage sat abandoned for decades before being renovated as a “deep energy” retrofit case study to show how a historic house can be made very energy efficient without losing its historic character-defining features.
This rehab is an Example Project in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors, including “A Field Guide to American Houses.” Save with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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