Emerson-Wilcox House
In the historic village of York stands one of the quiet survivors of early New England life: The Emerson-Wilcox House, a structure whose story stretched back nearly three centuries.
Built between 1735 and 1742, the house began as a center-chimney colonial dwelling. The early form revolved around a massive central fireplace, the heart of the home during long Maine winters.
In 1760, Edward Emerson expanded the house. He moved an earlier structure and physically attached it to the existing house. This created the distinctive L-shaped form that still defines the building today. Over time, the home continued to grow, eventually reaching about fifteen rooms.
The Emerson-Wilcox house was never just a private residence, at different times, it served as a general store, stage tavern, tailor shop and post office. This constant adaptation offers a glimpse of how early towns functioned, where one building could serve many purposes.
Today, this house is preserved by the Old York Historical Society as part of a collection of historic buildings that together tell the story of one of Maine’s earliest settlements.
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