Ellsworth Historical Society

Two noteworthy buildings are among Ellsworth Historical Society's holdings: the largely unchanged 1886 Old Hancock County Sheriff's Home and Jail (shown shortly after completion) and the Chamberlain/Whitney House, which has stood at the heart of Ellsworth Falls since the early 1800s. Inside their walls are the stories of people, businesses, and events that have shaped the city since its founding.

The jail was operational into the 1970s when the Ellsworth Historical Society rented and then, in 1998, purchased the structure. It is under renovation by the Society, and the significance of the building within Ellsworth's historic downtown district cannot be overestimated.

The jail building is one of a few remaining that were designed both as a residence for a sheriff and his family, as well as for a lockup. The rear half of the facility contains 16 small, windowless, granite cells on two levels. The front half is a largely intact residence, with four bedrooms on the second floor plus three attic bedrooms. Many original interior details remain. Rooms at the back of the residence have round openings with metal covers, through which the jailer could monitor and communicate with prisoners.

During the 19th century, jails were generally used for holding prisoners before trial or for short periods. Early Hancock County records were lost in a fire; jail intakes and discharges from 1946 to the 1960s show several repeat "customers" for offenses such as intoxication.

Built around 1825, the Chamberlain/Whitney House is one of Ellsworth’s most historically layered and culturally significant structures. In the 1930s, travelers stopped here as the passenger train rolled through Ellsworth Falls. It was used as a rooming house in the 1940s (shown in the photo), and in the 1960s, Dr. Richard Whitney welcomed dental patients in the front rooms, while Ellsworth High School teams practiced on the adjacent Whitney Field.

The house, known to many as the Whitney House, has been the Ellsworth Historical Society’s headquarters since 2014. Other local groups, like the Garden Club, meet there thus keeping alive a tradition of community gatherings in the building. It is an elegant example of the Adams Federal architectural style, with double chimneys and eight fireplaces. Originally the home of Justice of the Peace John Chamberlain and his wife Mary Hopkins Chamberlain, the Chamberlain/Whitney House now sits on two acres along State Street.