Item 80912 - Crane Home, Monson, ca. 1915

Item 80912 - Crane Home, Monson, ca. 1915
Contributed by Monson Historical Society
Item 80912
Crane Home, Monson, ca. 1915
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This home was built on South Main Street in Monson by Albert Whitney Chapin for his bride, Henrietta. Chapin was the son of Aretas and grandson of Capt. Amasa Chapin, both of whom were early settlers of Monson and from Monson, Massachusetts.

Chapin served in the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery during the Civil War and was severely wounded at Petersburg. Upon returning to Monson from the war, he became a prominent businessman, largely dealing in real estate and developing the slate industry. He also served in the State Senate and was Postmaster in Monson in 1887 and 1893. He died March 24, 1914, whereupon Henrietta lived there until 1920 when the property was purchased by Fred Crane, Superintendent of the Monson Maine Slate Company.

On March 28, 1944, the property was purchased by Gust Johnson. Gust was a blacksmith for the Monson Maine Slate Company and he also made many kicksleds for folks in Monson and the area. Many of his kicksleds survive today, entering the kicksled races on the Lake Hebron ice.

Gust sold the property to Doris and Emmons Brown in 1953 but continued to live there until he died on June 6, 1957. The Browns converted the residence to a nursing home which they operated for several years. The building was unoccupied for some years and was in a state of disrepair and was removed in about 2021.

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