Before & After ~ A Queen Anne style millworker cottage. 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 in a variety of styles popular during the Victorian period and into the early 20th century.
This Freeport, Maine, millworker 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, leased them to a shoe manufacturer, and then built dozens of similar cottages to house factory 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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