Madawaska in Aroostook County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Discover Traces of Acadian Architecture
Découvrez les traces de l'architecture acadienne
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 1, 2019
1. Discover Traces of Acadian Architecture Marker
Hidden solid timber homes.
Bricks disguise the timber structure of the house across the field, built using a practice once common here called "piece on piece" [above]. This method used square-hewn horizontal timbers locked in place with dove-tailed or mortise and tenon joints, and wooden "tree nails." More conventional round log homes were easier to build but too drafty for long, cold Valley winters.
Down the hill at the Albert House you can peer inside a wall to see its hidden dove-tailed solid timbers.
"Mobile" homes: In the mid-19th century many houses built along the river, including the Chassé and Albert homes, were moved uphill near the road and away from spring flooding.
Des maisons en bois massif dissimulé sous parement de briques.
La construction en bois massif utilisait des pièces de bois équarries posées les unes sur les autres avec des coins à queue d'aronde et, dans le toit, un assemblage à tenons mortaises et chevilles de bois. Les maisons en bois rond, plus simples à construire, laissaient passer trop de courant d'air.
Dans la maison Albert, on peut examiner l'intérieur d'un mur et y découvrir l'assemblage à queue d'aronde.
Des maisons mobiles. Au milieu du XIXè siècle, plusieurs maisons construites près de la rivière ont été déménagées plus haut près de la route et surtout loin des crues printanières.
Erected 2014
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 47° 20.929′ N, 68° 16.57′ W. Marker is in Madawaska, Maine, in Aroostook County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 1) and Fournier Siding, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Marker is located in front of the Tante Blanche Museum, overlooking Fournier Siding to the east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 774B Main Street, Madawaska ME 04756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Maine’s “The County”. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also Acadia.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Du Premier Débarquement des Acadiens àu Madawaska (a few steps from
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 1, 2019
2. Discover Traces of Acadian Architecture Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 1, 2019
3. Albert House
Albert House (downhill to left of marker) built when log timbers were plentiful, can be dated by its pièce sur pièce dove-tailed construction under the siding.
La maison Albert (à gauche en descendent) a été construire lorsque le bois était abondant. Sa construction en pièce sur pièce avec des joints à queue d’aronde visible sous son parement permet de la dater.
La maison Albert (à gauche en descendent) a été construire lorsque le bois était abondant. Sa construction en pièce sur pièce avec des joints à queue d’aronde visible sous son parement permet de la dater.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 17, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
