242 Simpsons Point Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011

Not far from downtown Brunswick, the road into historic Pennellville winds beneath tall canopies of trees before opening onto rolling sunlit meadows and the homes of Pennellville. A great old barn stands to the east, with Middle Bay beyond to the south. For generations, land and water shaped this place. Farmers worked the fields while shipbuilders built and launched wooden ships along the shores of Middle Bay. At the end of Simpsons Point Road, the road brings you to the water's edge; rocky ledges stretch into the bay, revealing hidden coves and small sandy beaches - perfect places to swim and sit in the sun, far from the madding crowds. But before reaching the water, there is 242 Simpsons Point Road. Set on 5.4 acres at the edge of the meadow, this center-chimney Cape was built in Bowdoinham around 1760. It stood there for more than two centuries before being moved to Pennellville in 1980 and carefully reassembled here. As part of the reconstruction, a new center chimney was built, bringing three working fireplaces back to life. Each has its own character. The largest anchors the keeping room and includes a working baking oven. Pumpkin pine floors, wood paneling, warm, weathered colors of milk paint, and sunlight carry through the rooms. The ell brings the house forward with a cherry kitchen, pantry, and mudroom. A first-floor bedroom and adjoining dressing room make one-level living easy. Upstairs, a sunny loft with tall ceilings offers space to read, work, or simply sit with the light. Old craftsmanship is everywhere, yet the rooms are warm, welcoming, and made for everyday life. Old things belong here. New things will too. Outside, gardens look across open meadows bordered by woods to the west. As the meadows begin to turn golden, summer lingers while the equinox draws near. Back at the old center-chimney Cape, it is nearly time to light the first fire of the season.