In celebration of Pumpkinfest, Lincoln County Historical Association will present a special demonstration of  the work of the colonial cooper on Oct. 11 and 12 between noon and 4 p.m. at the Chapman-Hall House at 270 Main St. in Damariscotta.  

The cooper was a skilled woodworker who selected, split, shaped, and fitted wooden staves into strong, durable containers. They fashioned barrels, wooden tubs, buckets, and other stave items to fulfill a multitude of needs.  Jeff Miller will use his woodworking skills to show how the cooper would create a bucket, one of the most essential household items in colonial America.

The oldest known house in Damariscotta today, the Chapman-Hall House is a rare Maine example of a plank-on-frame building. In November of 1753, Nathaniel Chapman purchased two parcels of land in Damariscotta, at that time part of Nobleboro, and referred to as Nobleboro.  One parcel consisted of 150 acres, and the second of 200 acres. Tradition has held that Nathaniel Chapman moved to Damariscotta in 1754. The 150 acre piece included all of what is now downtown Damariscotta.

The Hall name became part of the house’s history when Tilden Hall purchased the property in 1832.  Tilden Hall was a blacksmith and practiced his trade in town. Newly married in 1835, Tilden brought his wife Elizabeth to his Damariscotta home.  In the 1856 Maine Business Directory, under Damariscotta, Tilden was listed as a blacksmith. In the 1869 Maine Business Directory, under Edge Tool Manufacturers, Tilden Hall was listed as a maker of “axes.” The Hall family owned the house until 1907. 

October 11 and 12 is the last weekend that the Chapman-Hall House will be open for the 2025 season.  It is still available for school tours by appointment until the end of the month. For Pumpkinfest weekend, admission will be half-price - $5, instead of $10; children 16 and under are free.The coopering demonstration is open to the public, free of charge, and is not part of the house tour. 

Lincoln County Historical Association is a nonprofit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-hall House, the 1761 Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset.  For more information, please visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org.