The Elms of Court Street
By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
In the perfect world, as my editor, Mark Putnam has often said, newspaper reporters would never be wrong and that one must always remember, ‘never assume’. However, as we all know we are not perfect and we will most likely continue to assume when we shouldn’t.
THE ELMS — Here is a photo of The Elms located at 59 Court Street in Houlton in the early 1900s. Originally the Stevens home, it is now owned by Sue Waite-York. It was recently named to the National Register of historic places.
In the Aug. 12 edition of the Houlton Pioneer Times we reported that a home located at 115 Main Street had been entered into the National Register of Historic Places according to Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
The information regarding the home called The Elms came to us via an e-mail and not referencing a location other than Houlton. Being from here, the mention of the Elms in any conversation typically was a reference to the Twin Elms Tourist Home located at the above Main Street address.
Following the publication, the owner of another Elms, Sue Waite-York contacted us with information that the article we published was not describing the Main Street property, but a house she owned at 59 Court Street.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
ROOM-BY-ROOM — Sue Waite-York is restoring this once beautiful home located at 59 Court Street that was built in the 1870s. Shown here in the second floor master bedroom suite, Waite-York is standing by a slate fireplace and freshly spackled sheetrock.
Boardman Stevens, a leather and boot manufacturer originally built this house in the 1870s. He was a relative of the well-known Frisbie family of this town, of which the Frisbie Block was named.
Later, George W. Richards, another prominent resident purchased the home. He owned a successful dry goods business in Market Square. Sometime during this era the Court Street house was named The Elms.
Court Street at that time was lined with many magnificent elms that later would succumb to the Dutch elm disease.
In the 1930s the Julius Corey family purchased the property, operating it as a boarding home and passing it on to their son, Harrison and his wife Marie in 1960. They continued to operate the boarding home until 1998. The home was passed on to their grandchildren and nearly 10 years later they sold the diamond in the rough to Waite-York. She has been restoring it room by room since then.
“If I look at the overall project it seems a bit daunting,” said Waite-York, “but if I focus on one project at a time, I know that I can one day complete it.”
She has completed the updating of the heating, plumbing and roof problems and is now working on a room at a time. She finished the upstairs maid’s quarters enough to rent out and keep the house occupied while work still goes on. She is in the midst of the master bedroom located on the south side of the home.
Although the house was in need of attention when purchased, many of the original features were still intact. The beautiful tin ceilings, woodwork, fireplaces, built in glass cabinets, hardwood floors and woodwork will once again be part of an elegant home that Waite-York hopes to open to the public in time.
Through our mistakes we learn and we hope this clarifies the location of the Twin Elms Tourist Home on Main Street and The Elms on Court Street for future reference.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
HISTORIC FEATURES — The Elms on Court Street features notable architecture including a variety of tin ceilings, carved woodwork, a stately staircase with decorative features, several fireplaces and many ornamental characteristics.
