Pettengill Farm

       E.B. Mallet
       Casco Castle
       L.L.Bean
       Capt. Josiah A. Mitchell
       Freeport’s Role in Statehood
       Eleanor Houston Smith
        & Lawrence M.C. Smith

Directions to Pettengill Farm

While the farmhouse is open to the public by appointment and in September during the Annual Pettengill Farm Days (the first Sunday in October), the grounds, including gardens, fields, and forest trails, can be enjoyed freely throughout the year. From Main Street in Freeport, turn east on Bow Street (across from L. L. Bean, Inc. main entrance). Go 1.5 miles; turn right onto Pettengill Road. Park at the gate. Walk along the dirt road for about 15 minutes to the farmhouse. There is no admission charge. For information concerning Pettengill Farm or to make special arrangements to visit the property please contact us at 207-865-3170 or E-mail us at: info@freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

About Pettengill Farm & Gardens

Pettengill Farm, Painting by Faith Munson, click for larger image

Pettengill Farm, a nineteenth century salt-water farm on the estuary of the Harraseeket River, is owned by Freeport Historical Society. It includes a saltbox house (ca. 1810) on 140 acres of fields, woods, antique apple orchards and salt marsh. Most interesting are the etchings (sgraffitti) found on the plaster walls in the upper chambers of ships, sea monsters, longboats and animals. The farmhouse remains without plumbing, central heat and electricity and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its last resident, Mildred Pettengill, who lived in the house until 1970, lovingly transplanted wild roses, lilacs, cedar trees, and other plants from area fields, shores, and islands into the gardens and grounds about the house. Some are native American species and were among the flowers colonists found on arrival. From an undated letter by Miss Pettengill: “...In the flower garden back of the stable I have made paths with the old deformed bricks from the brickyard down on the shore, also a border of the bricks around the flower garden by the maple trees." Freeport Historical Society volunteers have added a delightful variety of historic perennials such as dahlias, hollyhocks, iris, and phlox. The garden was recently endowed in memory of Eleanor Houston and Lawrence M. C. Smith, who donated the house and property to Freeport Historical Society in 1975. The small milk shed was re-built in 2006 by local Boys Scout Tropp #45 as part of an Eagle Scout leadership project.


Sgraffitti	Pettengill Farm ca. 1950

Sgraffitti
Sgraffitti is an Italian word that means to scratch or draw by incising into the surface. These very rare drawings adorn the walls of three of the upper chambers. Most depict ships, boats, and sea animals.