It’s not yet lilac season here in northern New England, but this photo of Red Farm in East Madison, Maine, reminds me that it is coming.
Built in the 1790s, the Federal style farmhouse was restored in the early 1930s and filled with fine art, folk art, and antiques by two generations of the Cummings family. Today it is the heart of the noted Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, which was founded on the property by artist Bill Cummings and friends in the 1940s.
It was also the childhood home of Myra Rowell Whitten (1803-1887). In 1830, she married William Whitten and moved 70 miles south to the house I now own, where she spent the rest of her life. I have been involved in the restoration and preservation of both these houses.
I’ve done a lot of research on the Whittens and Rowells. Myra was the daughter of a Revolutionary War veteran, lived through the War of 1812 and the Civil War (in which her only son was a soldier and POW). She lost a teenage daughter and a young grandchild to illness. She died at 84 years old. People who know history understand that life goes on, people adapt, and good times return, like lilacs in spring.
Red Farm is one of the 13 featured homes photographed by David Clough and presented between the how-to chapters of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.” Each of them includes interior, historic, and “during restoration” photos along with information of the history of the house and the restoration work done to it.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Select preservation titles by other authors are also available in our shop!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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