Renovation of old Camden farmhouse

Wed, 07/18/2018 - 15:49

Those attending the ribbon cutting ceremony included Beth Gindel, Molly McKellar, “Annie of course!”, Sandy Cox, Lisa Decker Griffith, Steve Pixley, Sharyn Pohlman, Jeff Walsh, Natalie Hart, Justin Humes, Donee Wyke, Charlotte Horovitz, Abby Enggass and A. Flint Decker. (Photo courtesy New England Real Estate Company)

(Photo courtesy New England Real Estate Company)

CAMDEN — The New England Real Estate Company held a ribbon-cutting July 13 to celebrate the opening of its new driveway and new office addition at 98 Elm Street in Camden.

Earlier this year, the 98 Elm Street building underwent a significant reconstruction that was begun a year ago with the goal of restoring the historic charm of an old Route 1 farmhouse, near the entrance to Camden. The farmhouse was built in 1937 and once home to the Spear Family. Renovations included construction of a new addition and expanding office space.

The addition design was first conceived by A. Flint Decker, founder and president of the New England Real Estate Company, with the assistance of local architect Dave Johnson of Skaala Design firm. William Gartley and Jim Dorsky of Gartley & Dorsky, in Rockport, completed the engineering and surveying work.

IThe design came directly from the long-time influence of one of Flint’s favorite architectural books, Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn – The Connected Farm Buildings of New England, published by the University Press of New England and the Trustees of Dartmouth College in 1984 by Thomas C. Hubka.

“Our design goal was simple,” said Decker, in a news release. “To keep the original farmhouse house in-tact and show it’s possibilities by designing how it could have expanded at the turn of the century if still a working farm through the vision of adding in more rooflines and complemented by a central breezeway which showcases the gardens and trees found in the backyards.”

He said: “We’re proud to have chosen and completed the renovations at 98 Elm Street building and in choosing this address to base our real estate brokerage, the New England Real Estate Company, which serves Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties. We look forward to welcoming the community to see the transformation of this historic district location at they visit our offices over the upcoming years. The simple design of this farmhouse influences this building location for our company each day and truly represents the charm that defines Camden.”