Story
The Leach-Overlock House is located in East Vassalboro, a village of Vassalboro. Built for local lawyer and postmaster Philip Leach, the c. 1805 Federal-style house is joined by a simple rear ell. The modest cape retains wonderful exterior and interior details, most notably its fully intact stencil work and floor painting in the front parlor. This work is attributed to the itinerant folk art stenciler Moses Eaton Jr. of New Hampshire. The stenciling was completed in bright primary green, red, and yellow, with recurring motifs of a pineapple, a maple leaf within a wreath, a red starburst, and a red bird on a willow. Above the mantlepiece is a unique motif of a yellow bird on a basket of flowers.
Historic photographs and documentation held by the Vassalboro Historical Society provide clues to the property’s evolution. At one point, a porch with ornate millwork ran the length of the façade and the front yard was cordoned off by an elaborate fence. The ell stretched twice its current length and connected to a large barn. It is believed the porch was removed in 1953 and the barn burned in 1960.
Gertrude “Trudy” Overlock, was the most recent owner of the property. Trudy purchased the house in 1983 and set out to make improvements only to discover the hand-painted details under five layers of wallpaper! As an artist herself, Trudy understood the significance of what she had found. She painstakingly unveiled the stenciling throughout the entire parlor then successfully nominated the house to the National Register of Historic Places. Trudy operated an art gallery on the first floor of the house and was always willing to open her doors to share the painted walls with the public.
Threat
Trudy passed away in 2023, leaving no transition plan for her house. A member of the family reached out to Maine Preservation (MP) shortly thereafter for assistance. We had prior contact with Ms. Overlock and were aware of her desire to preserve the property, protect her hard work, and keep the stenciling publicly accessible. We quickly learned, however, this would require solving a challenging puzzle. Trudy had no children and her last living sibling died in 2024. A “Personal Representative” (PR) would need to coordinate all 19 potential heirs from across the country, in addition to addressing outstanding medical debts, back taxes, and a house in worsening condition.
Since her passing, time and the elements have chipped away at the exterior paint, leaving delicate carpentry details and windows exposed. The asphalt shingle roof is nearing the end of its service life and flashing around the chimney won’t hold up for much longer. The greatest concern is what will happen to the precious stenciling inside if the house’s envelope no longer sheds water or if the interior remains unheated for yet another Maine winter.
How to get involved
MP seeks to become the PR in order to secure the endangered property, stabilize the structure, and see it returned to use as a single-family home. The addition of a preservation easement on the deed of sale would guarantee that the hand-stenciling in the front parlor would be cared for and never again covered by paint or wallpaper. It would also allot for a day of public access to view the stenciling.
We have been fortunate to receive research assistance and encouragement from the Vassalboro Historical Society and the Center for Painted Wall Preservation. The 1772 Foundation has provided us with a grant from its Historic Properties Redevelopment Program to offset expenses in our acquisition of the Leach-Overlock House. However, resolving this legal matter will continue to require significant staff hours and expensive counsel. Please donate today, https://www.mainepreservation.org/donate.
Photo Credits: Vassalboro Historical Society; Maine Preservation
