Senate passes Sen. Maxmin bill to help conserve the Frances Perkins Homestead

AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill from Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, to allocate funding to help conserve the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle. LD 440, “An Act To Conserve the Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark,” would allocate $100,000 in funding to help the Frances Perkins Center repair the structure and ensure safe entry, parking and accessibility to the site.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have the Frances Perkins homestead here in our community,” said Sen. Maxmin. “Francis Perkins was an American pioneer, and a trailblazing figure for women in politics and for worker’s rights. Her homestead preserves her history and the history of a family that lived on this land for centuries. It’s a great educational tool for Mainers and for those who visit, and I’m glad my colleagues see the value in preserving this piece of history.”

Frances Perkins served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Perkins was the first woman appointed to a cabinet position and was an instrumental figure behind New Deal programs including Social Security, unemployment insurance and a minimum wage. Her homestead sits on 57 acres in Newcastle and was owned by the Perkins family from the 1750s until its transfer to the Frances Perkins Center in 2020. Frances herself owned the homestead from 1927 to 1965. The property abuts the Damariscotta River and includes a Brick House built in 1837. The homestead was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 2014, and serves as an educational site and resource for Mainers and those from around the world. 

A prestigious $500,000 grant awarded to the Center by the National Parks Service in August 2020 requires the Center to procure $824,000 in matching funds, including in-kind service. Any allocation from the state will contribute to these matching funds.

LD 440 faces further votes in the Legislature.