George F. Clifford House

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The George F. Clifford House is a historic home in Cornish, Maine. Built around 1873–74 for George Franklin Clifford, it’s a fine example of Greek Revival style even though that fashion was fading at the time. George Clifford was the son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Nathan Clifford.

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 2010. It sits in the village center, at the north side of the junction of High Road and Fiddle Lane. Nearby is the Caleb R. Ayer House, home of George Clifford’s uncle, Caleb Ayer, who served as Secretary of State.

Architecturally, the house is a 2½-story wood-frame structure with a side gable roof, two interior chimneys, clapboard siding, and a granite foundation. The south-facing main facade is five bays wide, with a central entrance that has sidelights and a transom window, set in a recessed area with pilasters. The corners feature pilasters that rise to an entablature and cornice around the building. A single-story hip-roof porch runs across the front and around to the east, with a geometric railing and square posts with decorative brackets. The house is connected to a period carriage house by a narrow hyphen.

Inside, much of the original woodwork and hardware remains. The main entrance faces toward the Ayer House, reflecting the family link. It is not clear why the house was built in the Greek Revival style, which had been out of fashion for more than a decade.