Painting in Context: Sarah Orne Jewett House

Writer Sarah Orne Jewett was born in her grandparents’ eighteenth-century house. She lived there with her family until 1854, when they built a Greek Revival house next door. As Sarah gained attention as an author, she and her family lived in the two Portland Street homes in the center of town. Jewett and her older sister Mary inherited their grandparents’ house, now a National Historic Landmark, in 1887. It inspired Jewett’s novel Deephaven.

Today, the grandparents’ house is the Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum. It reflects a blend of the sisters’ eclectic tastes and their family’s tradition, with wallpapers and furnishing that show an Arts and Crafts influence. The newer Greek Revival house next door is a visitor center featuring exhibitions of work by local students, community meeting space, and a museum shop.

The Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum is located at 5 Portland Street, South Berwick, Maine 03908.