Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-04-02
An Ancient and interesting iious.

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Oscar e. Barrows has made . begin
ming on the work Of tearing down what
has been known to the present genera
ton as the "Hewett house," though II
was long known to those Of former times
a. the "Psrsons house," The building
will be entirely removed from the lot
and when anything else 10 built there, II
will probably stand farther southeast, %
~ to widen and straighten "Barrowt
Street," which Mr.. Barrows laid out
through the lot, and on which he has &C
far built three houses.
However, as to tho future use of the
lot, Mr.. Barrows, II he knows, 10 not say
ing anything, but 10 letting % guess.
Forty feet of the ell of the building
has been sold, to 60 to Stresked Noun.
tain and be rebuilt into club house OF
neighborh0od house near the top OF the
ridge on the Buckfield road above ]. A.
ISturtevant's, and some OF the material
has already been taken away.
Except for the ell, the roofs and walls
have not been disturbed a. yet, but con.
siderable work of clearing out inside hsa
been done.
This old house il of much interest In
these days, both historically and as q
physical structure. It was built one
hundred and three years ago by Col.
Henry Rust Parsons, and the family
moved into 1t when his oldest child, the
late Mrs. Sarah w. Hewett, was only Q
few months of age. Many years after.
ward It came into the possession of Mrs.
Hewett by purchase from the other
heirs, and was her home until her death
at an advanced age.
In the History Of Paris the Parsons
house IL named as one OF the eight
houses which stood on the west side OF
the river In South Paris In 1870, and
doubtless It was the largest OF them.
How many of the other seven, or parts
of them, are now standing, the Democrat
is unable to tell, but certainly not many.
Originally the house had . fiat roof,
for which was later substituted the pres
emit gable roof. Alfred e. Morse and
Miss Anna Morse, grandchildren OF Col.
Parsons, can just remember the old roof.
One thing may safely be said OF the
house. It contains more clear pine lum.
Der than will ever 20 into another house
of the same size In this state. It might
perhaps be said that It contains more
clear pine than will ever 60 into another
house anywhere. The house WAS built
In the days of what We now call "old
punkin pine" when builder took ouly
the best Of the lumber.
There are single timbers eeventy feet
long In the building. The plates Of the
main house are 8x16 inches, Of the same
clear pine which was used for oil the
rest of the building. In tho front rooms
was q dado of single boards two feet
wide. The floor boards were OF the
same quality, and 90 strong to-day that
with the exercise of little care, they
can be taken up, 90 most OF them have
been, without other damage than that
made by the nail holes. A number OF
the partitions were of boards instead Of
plaster, and they were the same kind Of
stuff.
There are three ohimneys, containing
In oil bricks enough for quite Q house.
The largest chimney stands on an arch
the interior space of which is 5x10 feet,
and over feet high.
On the walls of the front ball 10 .
paper of great age, which has kept In
good condition, with figure made OF
scenes in Gsllipoli.
OF course all the carpenter work OF
the finish was done by hand, and It was
done In the most thorough and work.
manlike manner throughout.
Many people have taken advantage OF
the opportunity to look over the con-
struction of the building, and see what
Q real house was like century ago.