198-200 Broadway, Rockland, Maine: A Brief History
Imagine Rockland, Maine in 1891, a rough and tumble coastal city, booming with rapidly expanding industries, including lime, ship building, and fishing. Duplexes were springing up across the city to meet the demand for workforce housing. This is where our story about a young redhead begins. Edna St. Vincent Millay was born in a double-house at 198/200 Broadway, during a raging snowstorm, on February 22, 1892. The house was new and the first occupants of its north side were Henry Tolman Millay and his wife, Cora Buzzell Millay.
Fast forward to1934, when the Rockland's Women's Educational Club decided it was important to commemorate the poet and her birthplace. They raised funds, one penny at a time, to place a commemorative wooden marker on the house. Their fundraising efforts exceeded their expectations and they were able to upgrade to a bronze plaque—and this was during the Great Depression.
“I am very pleased and touched that so many women in the city in which I was born should wish to honour me in this way.”
—Letter from Millay to Mrs. Perry Rich
president of Women’s Educational Club
Years pass and the plaque was removed. The house was occupied and used as much as any other house on the street, perhaps even more so, and sadly, fell into disrepair. In 2015, a group of neighbors and friends met to tour a funky, old, falling down, bright blue disaster of a building that was in danger of foreclosure, condemnation, and demolition. They remembered that this was the house in which Edna St. Vincent Millay was born and shifted into action.
In November of that year, the midcoast’s Free Press published an article outlining the house’s dilemma, citing it as a rescue mission. Roxanne Quimby saw the article and was very intrigued. She drove to Rockland that afternoon, met with one of the friends about the house, and helped to clarify and begin the mission to conserve the heritage of this important place, and contribute to cultural tourism.
The Rockland Historical Society acted as the non-profit fiscal agent to raise funds and purchase the Millay House in 2016. In 2017, Millay House Rockland became a tax-exempt 501c3, and the historical society deeded the house to the new organization.
Over the years, Les Fossell’s Restoration Resources restored the exterior, Kirk Rouge of K R Construction restored the interiors of both sides of the double house with a generous discount from Hammond Lumber, and Bryce Black of Green Leaf Roofing donated a new roof.
By 2022, the north side of the double house was completed, and it is rented to provide income to support the upkeep of the house. In 2023, the restoration of the south side was completed and furnished by donations from Re/Max Jaret & Cohn and a bed and breakfast that was closing. At the first open house to introduce the facility to the public, Maine Governor Janet Mills attended because she loves poetry.
Today the south side, 198 A Broadway, supports two month-long juried writer-in-residence programs, in partnership with the Ellis Beauregard Foundation, and several month-long rentals to writers. The writers of both residency programs give readings or workshops to the public at larger venues. Also at the house, local poets and writers give small writing workshops.
Millay House Rockland plans to create a quiet, woodland garden for its writers and renters on its backlot. The garden will have pathways leading to a stone patio, and gardeners and garden clubs will recommend trees and indigenous plantings to complete the garden retreat. Fundraising is ongoing for the Millay Garden.
