Ruggles Ruggles HouseHouse

Welcome Welcome

to theto the

Thomas Thomas Ruggles left Ruggles left Massachusetts Massachusetts in 1795 to seek in 1795 to seek his fortune in his fortune in the wilderness the wilderness that would that would become become Columbia Falls, Columbia Falls, Maine.Maine.

In 1796 he married In 1796 he married Ruth Clapp and Ruth Clapp and brought her to Maine brought her to Maine

He purchased land, He purchased land, harvested and sold harvested and sold timber, became a timber, became a successful successful merchant.merchant.

And in 1818…And in 1818…

He built a house.He built a house.

Built in, what was Built in, what was then, the latest then, the latest style, the Ruggles style, the Ruggles House is a great House is a great example of classic example of classic Federal Federal architecture.architecture.

Clean lines, simple Clean lines, simple but still elegant.but still elegant.

But with a few touches of country But with a few touches of country whimsy.whimsy.

And the famous Flying And the famous Flying StaircaseStaircase

Tragically, Thomas Tragically, Thomas only lived in the only lived in the house a short time. house a short time. He died in 1820.He died in 1820.

His wife Ruth lived His wife Ruth lived there for another 39 there for another 39 years. years.

When Ruth died in When Ruth died in 1859, ownership of 1859, ownership of the house passed to the house passed to Thomas and Ruth’s Thomas and Ruth’s son Frederick son Frederick Augustus Ruggles.Augustus Ruggles.

LizzieLizzieEmilyEmily

Frederick and his wife Caroline had two Frederick and his wife Caroline had two daughters.daughters.

Over the years, the Over the years, the fortune Thomas fortune Thomas Ruggles made Ruggles made dwindled away.dwindled away.

Frederick and Frederick and Caroline lived into Caroline lived into old age and there old age and there was little to no was little to no income.income.

The house fell into disrepairThe house fell into disrepair

Emily had died Emily had died young (age 37). young (age 37). After her parents After her parents died, Lizzie lived died, Lizzie lived alone in the house alone in the house until her death in until her death in 1920.1920.

She did her best to She did her best to save what she could save what she could and dreamed of and dreamed of restoring her restoring her grandfather’s home grandfather’s home to it’s original to it’s original grandeur. grandeur.

In 1920 Mary In 1920 Mary Ruggles Chandler Ruggles Chandler came to the rescue.came to the rescue.

Together with other Together with other family members, family members, she began the long she began the long process of rescuing process of rescuing and restoring the and restoring the house.house.

A true “modern” woman, Mary Chandler was A true “modern” woman, Mary Chandler was the first licensed woman pharmacist in the the first licensed woman pharmacist in the state of Maine.state of Maine.

She enlisted preservation experts in Boston She enlisted preservation experts in Boston and secured financial backing in Bar Harbor.and secured financial backing in Bar Harbor.

Many family items remained in the house and Many family items remained in the house and

others were returned by descendents. others were returned by descendents.

And in 1950, after And in 1950, after 30 years of work, 30 years of work, the Ruggles House the Ruggles House was opened to the was opened to the public.public.

““Aunt May” as she Aunt May” as she was known, was one was known, was one of the first docents of the first docents and gave tours until and gave tours until her death in 1955her death in 1955

The Ruggles The Ruggles house Society is house Society is pleased to be pleased to be able to present able to present the house as if the house as if the family has the family has just stepped out. just stepped out.

Over 50% of the Over 50% of the collection is collection is Ruggles Family Ruggles Family items. items.

We celebrate We celebrate Aunt May and Aunt May and her use of her use of medicinal medicinal plants with an plants with an herb garden herb garden beside the beside the house.house.

The newest The newest exhibit exhibit includes the includes the less glamorous less glamorous working side of working side of history, with a history, with a period laundry period laundry room and tool room and tool display in what display in what was the was the original original kitchen of the kitchen of the house. house.

Please plan to visit the Ruggles House and see Please plan to visit the Ruggles House and see

Thomas’s legacy, Lizzie’s dream and Aunt Thomas’s legacy, Lizzie’s dream and Aunt May’s accomplishment in person.May’s accomplishment in person.

Open daily June 1 to Oct 15. 9:30-4:30Open daily June 1 to Oct 15. 9:30-4:30