214 Downs Road

Description

If the walls of this elegant but simple 5 bay Federal style country manor could tell their story, this is what you might hear: Built for William R Lowney, a successful, young farmer in the frontier town of Sebec, Maine Ca 1812, to showcase his up-and-coming status. Mr. Lowney was active in the statehood movement and was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional convention in Portland, where he proudly affixed his signature to the new states founding document. He was then sent as the first representative to the new legislature, where several terms and then returned to his farm. He continued to serve his neighbors as the Town Clerk for many years using his front parlor as the town office. Weddings, court cases, neighborly disputes, town business and many a political discussion occurred within those walls!A subsequent owner was William Downs who was a native of Orono. Mr. Downs was not only successful, but he managed to hold on to his fortune and return to Maine, buying a small farm in Sebec and then later the Lowney farm when it became available. He was a very successful farmer, expanding the farm to 400 acres, growing a variety of crops, an experimental orchard, experimented with different cattle breeds and a national reputation for raising racehorses. He was influential in studying agriculture, publishing several treatises on agricultural practices and farming techniques. This property is a remarkable time capsule of who has come before us. It has survived war, famine, weather, and 210 years later it still watches over the Piscataquis River valley. The current owners have enjoyed their role as caretakes of this historic property for many years. They are hoping to pass on this role to a new steward who can appreciate what being a part of living history is all about.