Text by Margaret McCrea. Images from Maine Historical Society, Montpelier: the General Henry Knox Museum, and Thomaston Historical Society
The Ranlett House, Thomaston, ca. 1960
Thomaston Historical Society
Thomaston has long been known for the impressive homes lining its tree-lined streets. It is a town whose architecture retains the original 19th century flavor of a New England coastal village. A large majority of the homes were designed and built by captains and shipbuilders, men who had a tendency to overbuild structures in order to withstand harsh elements, both on land and on sea. Their survival depended on it. Due to their solid construction, approximately 400 original buildings still line the streets throughout the town.